June 29, 1935 – June 11, 2026 Lieutenant Colonel Richard Owen “Dick” Merritt, United States Marine Corps (Retired), affectionately known as “The Colonel,” passed away peacefully on June 11, 2026, at the age of 90, surrounded by the love of his family.
Born on June 29, 1935, in Seattle, Washington, Dick was raised with his brother Charlie in the shadow of Mount Rainier. From an early age, he developed a lifelong love of the outdoors, leadership, …