Merrel Norman Whanger, 91, of Ronceverte, WV, passed away Monday, May 1, 2017, at home.
Born January 9, 1926, at Ronceverte, he was a son of Frank Thomas Whanger and Glenna Carson Forren Whanger.
Merrel was an iron worker and a truck driver, having worked for Agnew & Joseph and later for Orders Construction Co. He was a member of the Ketron Methodist Church. He was a World War II U.S. Army combat veteran serving in Frankfort, Germany, and elsewhere in the European theater.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister and one brother.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Maxine Marie Ford Whanger; daughters, Martha Sue Kirk and husband, Cary, of Renick, WV, Nora Mann and companion, Terry Walkup, of Renick, and Barbara Gabbert of Ronceverte, who was also his caregiver; grandchildren, Michelle Bales, Sheree Rideout, Monica Mann, Lisa Blackburn, Chad Kirk, Michael Gabbert, Tonya Gabbert, and Anthony Mann; 16 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Cecil Gabbert of Ronceverte; former son-in-law, Larry Mann of Ronceverte; and brothers, Buddy Whanger of St. Albans, WV, and the Rev. Wilber Whanger of Billings, MT.
A private graveside service will be conducted at Ketron Cemetery with Pastor Susan Erskine officiating.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH .com.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Ronceverte is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the May 3, 2017, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.