Merrill Joseph Holbrook, age 91, of 400 Richardson Road, Collinsville, VA passed away on May 6, 2019 at his home following a brief illness. He was born on July 27, 1927 in McDowell County, West Virginia in the coal town called Cucumber to the late Damon Edward Holbrook and Floye Vienna Issacs Holbrook. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of sixty years, Phyllis Christine Caudill Holbrook, and two brothers, Damon Edward Holbrook II and Harold Dean Holbrook.
Surviving are his two sons and their wives, Christopher Joseph and Margaret Kay Quesenberry Holbrook of Claymont, Delaware, and Patrick John and Katrina Lynn Leonard Holbrook of Collinsville, Virginia; two grandsons, Justin Christopher Holbrook and his wife Kaitlyn Ann McEnrue Holbrook of Baltimore, Maryland, and Austin Joseph Holbrook and his partner Hillary M. Pena of Wilmington, Delaware; and three great-granddaughters, Sophia, Skylar and Teagan Holbrook. Also surviving is one brother, Lloyd “Conn” Holbrook of Bluefield, Virginia.
Merrill was a graduate of Big Creek High School in War, West Virginia, and of West Virginia Business College in Bluefield, West Virginia. He was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and served his country while stationed in Germany. Upon his discharge, he returned to Bluefield, West Virginia where he worked for furniture retailer, Chicago House. Soon thereafter, Merrill married Phyllis and they had their first child, Christopher. The family relocated to Collinsville, Virginia in 1964 when Merrill went to work as manager of accounting for Stanley Furniture Company. During this time, he also had his second child, Patrick. Merrill remained at Stanley Furniture Company and retired after almost 30 years of employment. He was a long-time member of Smith Memorial United Methodist Church in Collinsville, Virginia where he taught the Charles Wesley Sunday School Class for over fifty years. Merrill was thankful to God and to his loving family and friends for a long and wonderful life.
Merrill will be laid to rest at Roselawn Burial Park in Martinsville, Virginia following a private family service at Norris Funeral Home. The family would like to thank the staff of Mountain Valley Hospice and Visiting Angels for the professional and compassionate care provided to Merrill over the past few days. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 730 E Church St, St #13, Martinsville, VA 24112.
Norris Funeral Services, Inc. and Crematory of Martinsville, VA is serving the Holbrook family.
Online condolences may be made at www.norrisfuneral.com.
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