Vinton Merrill

VINTON MILLER MERRILL May 7, 1915 – August 12, 2004

Vinton Miller Merrill, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away Thursday, August 12, 2004 in Bountiful, Utah. Born in Preston, Idaho to Leslie Vinton and Marie Miller Merrill. Married Afton Wilcox April 15, 1938 in the Logan LDS Temple. They were married 61 years. He attended college at University of Utah, Brigham Young University and graduated from Utah State University. He received his Doctor of Medical Dentistry from North Pacific School of Dentistry in Portland, Oregon. He practiced dentistry in San Diego and Long Beach, California for 40 years. Vinton had a long history of service in the LDS Church, serving as Bishop of the Long Beach, California 8th Ward, Stake Presidency, Long Beach, California East Stake, Area Athletic Director for California, Arizona, and Nevada, Temple Worker in the Los Angeles Temple, Temple Worker Coordinator for temple missionaries in Salt Lake City, Utah. He served in the Berlin, Germany mission from 1934 – 1937. He and Afton served a temple mission to the Swiss Temple in Bern, Switzerland from 1985 – 1987. Survived by his children, V. Brent Merrill Terry of Farmington, Utah, Tamara Collins Alan of Bountiful, Utah, Shanon Sommer Ron of Claremont, California, and Deborah Clark R. Rand of Tulsa, Oklahoma; brothers and sisters, Venus Wheeler Herbert, Carmen Dibble Ralph, deceased, Gwen Reading Roland, Douglas Merrill Oksan and Reed Merrill Joan; 22 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his wife, Afton; granddaughter, Meredith; and brother, Richard Merrill. Funeral services will be held Monday, August, 16, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful Central Stake Center, 450 South 750 East, Bountiful. Friends may call Sunday evening from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, and Monday from 9:45 – 10:45 at the church prior to services. Interment?Smithfield City Cemetery. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com.