Merle W. Menter, 90, of Derry, NH, died Sunday, July 8, 2007 at his home after a long illness. He was born in Londonderry, NH in 1916 and moved to East Derry in 1946, where he owned and operated a dairy farm for many years. Prior to WWII, he was a well-known area musician. He played the guitar and sang with local dance bands and on radio stations in Lowell and Lawrence, MA. At the start of WWII, he was the first man from Londonderry to be drafted. For the duration of the war, he served in the 3rd Division 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion and the Medical Detachment of the 30th Infantry Regiment. He was a decorated veteran and an ex-POW. Mr. Menter was an avid horseman and gardener, and was passionate about the preservation of farmland. He was also a 50-year member of St. Mark’s Masonic Lodge, #44, F & AM of Derry.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marion (Springfield) Menter of Derry, two daughters, Marilyn and Marsha, a son-in-law Edward, a brother, Chester E. Menter, and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours were held on Thursday, July 12th, from 9 – 10:00am in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. St. Mark's Lodge conducted a Masonic ritual at 9:45am during calling hours. The funeral service was held at 10:00am. The burial followed in the Forest Hill Cemetery in E. Derry. The family requests memorial contributions to EPONA, PO Box 315, Epping, NH 03042-0315 or to SPACE, NH’s Current Use Coalition, 54 Portsmouth St., Rm. 117, Concord, NH 03301.