Merril E Birch, 91, of Collinsville, IL was born on January 30, 1931, in Bible Grove, IL. He died on Friday, June 10, 2022, at Memorial Hospital in Shiloh, IL.
Mr. Birch was a member of Copper Creek Christian Church, the VFW, and Korean War Veterans Chapter #95. He was in the United States Air Force from December 11, 1951, to March 11, 1956, serving most of his time as an Airplane Technician in the Korean War. He worked for the US Army-AVSCOM (Aviation Systems Command) as an Aviation Equipment Specialist for 35 years where he was involved in the training and development of the AH-64 Apache helicopter and its infrared night vision pilot helmet. After retirement from AVSCOM and a few years of tinkering in his garage, he went back to work for the government but worked for outside government contractors involved with his former department, AVSCOM. After 5 years, he retired from the same desk he initially retired from. He enjoyed gardening, renting and rehabbing houses, and working on anything in his garage shop. His main project became fully restoring his 1966 3/4 ton Chevy pickup truck. After restoration, he had it shipped to Santa Monica, California where he and a Korean War veteran buddy took about 2 weeks traveling Route 66 back to St. Louis – stopping at every ice cream place along the way. He was married to Elaine (nee Lewis) Birch on February 19, 1955. They had 51 years together before her death in 2006.
Merril was preceded in death by his parents, John and Josephine (nee Wyatt) Birch; his wife, Elaine (nee Lewis) Birch, and brothers, Darrel, Ronald, and Richard Birch.
Surviving are his children, Jackie (Richard) Wisnasky of Collinsville, IL, and Benton (Ellen) Birch of St. Louis, MO; seven grandchildren, Kristi (Steven) Doering, Ryan (Mary) Wisnasky, Kathryn Wisnasky, Benton, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Mathew Birch; seven great-grandchildren, Sophia, Abigail, and Kaleb Doering, Lucy, Jane, Daniel, and Margaret Wisnasky; one sister, Willa Karen (Stanley) Dillman of Champaign, IL; two brothers, Reggie (Jean) Birch of Bible Grove, IL and Terry (Carol) Birch of Louisville, IL; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Visitation will be 4 – 7 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2022, at Barry Wilson Funeral Home, Maryville, IL.
The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at Copper Creek Christian Church, 2184 Vadalabene Drive, Maryville, IL. Interment will be at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Glen Carbon, IL.
Memorials are suggested to Copper Creek Christian Church and will be received at the visitation or can be mailed to Barry Wilson Funeral Home at 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.
