February 17 1933 August 06 2019
Mervin’s Obituary Mervin L. Dishong, 86, of Lebanon, passed away on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at the Lebanon VA Medical Center. He was the husband of Dolores R. (Quarry) Dishong. Born in Annville, PA on February 17, 1933, he was a son of the late Howard and Grace (Wilt) Dishong. Mervin was a lifelong and a faithful member of St. Mary’s Church in Lebanon where he and his wife were married. He passed away just two months shy of their 64th wedding anniversary. Mervin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he selflessly served from 1952 to 1955 and was proud to call himself a Korean War veteran. He later retired from the Air National Guard 201st Red Horse Squadron out of Indiantown Gap National Cemetery after 20 years of service. Mervin was well respected and highly regarded in his military circle. He was a life member of Lebanon VFW Post 23 and the American Legion in Lancaster and enjoyed playing the French horn for the 2nd Marine Division Band. To say Mervin worked hard was an understatement. He held three jobs at a time, including but not limited to a cook, a steel foundry worker, and a barber. He retired from the Lebanon VA Medical Center where he worked as a nursing assistant for many years. Mervin’s most recent job, which he left only because he was no longer able to drive, was at the age of 80 as a groundskeeper for Hersheypark. But Mervin believed the most important job of all was the one he did alongside his wife, raising their six children. Together, and by example, they instilled in each of them, the value of discipline, honesty, loyalty, kindness, respect and a strong work ethic. They made their house a home not only for their own children, but for other family members, friends, and even foster children over the years. A barber by trade, Mervin kept his scissors sharp in the makeshift barber shop he created in their basement. There he would share stories and foster friendships that lasted a lifetime. Mervin also enjoyed his time in the kitchen preparing some of the family’s favorite home cooked meals. The coveted recipe for his famous pot pie has been passed down for generations and will be served at many family gatherings to come. Mervin was well liked and sincerely enjoyed the company of the countless friends he made throughout his life; especially his breakfast club buddies, Clayton and Amos. In addition to his wife, Mervin is survived by six children – Dennis, husband of Mary, Michael, husband of Marianne, Patrick and his fiancée, Amy, Denise, Richard, husband of Lisa, and Matthew, husband of Donell; 15 grandchildren – Adam, Jessica, Craig, Pat, Ryan, Amber, Zachary, Danielle, Melanie, Emily, Alex, Daniel, Micaela, and Devyn; 17 great grandchildren; a brother, Ray “Chek”, husband of Geraldine; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Terrence; a brother, Daniel; and three sisters, Nora, Diana, and Grace. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 13th from 11:30am-12:30pm at Thompson Funeral Home, Inc., 126 South 9th Street, Lebanon, PA with funeral services beginning at 12:30pm. Interment with full military honors will follow at 2:00pm at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mervin’s name may be made to The Lebanon VA Hospice, 1700 South Lincoln Ave., Lebanon, PA 17042. Please share your memories with the family at our online guest book at thompsonfuneralhomelebanon.com Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Mervin L Dishong February 17 1933 August 06 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Lebanon, state: Pennsylvania