Spencerville—Merl Dean Furnish, 87, died Sunday afternoon, May 19, 2002, at Betz Nursing Home in Auburn.  Mr. Furnish was a barber for 45 years and lived in Spencerville.  He served four years in the U. S. Army during World War 11 in New Guinea and Australia.  He was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Spencerville and American Legion Post 409 in Leo.
     He was born May 16, 1915, in Spencerville to James Arthur and Metta (Roads) Furnish.
     He married Marion White on March 31, 1946, in Akron, Ohio, and she survives.
     Also surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Norma and Kenny Neuhouser of Fort Wayne; one son and daughter-in-law   Kenneth and Cindy Furnish of Butler; a brother, Charles Furnish of Leo; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
   One brother, Harold “Babe” Furnish, preceded him in death on June 21, 1995.
     Services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Carnahan-Baidinger & Walter Funeral Home, Spencerville, with Pastor Paul Row officiating. Burial will be in White City cemetery at Spencerville, with military services.
     Calling is Tuesday from 3-8 p.m. in the funeral home.
     Memorials are to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Spencerville, Ind.

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