Merle E. Chalmers

OBITUARY: Merle E. Chalmers
Merle E. Chalmers, 81, of Topeka, died Wed., Dec. 22, 2010. He was born Dec. 31, 1928 to Wilhelmina and Phillip Chalmers at Green. He graduated from Manhattan High School. On Sept. 1, 1957, he married Anna Hunt at Denison. He was employed and retired from the Kansas Army National Guard after 23 years. He was then employed at McAbee and Kobach Buick body shops. He was a Past Master of Golden Rule Lodge # 90, and a Past Monarch of Media Grotto, and a member of Daylight Lodge # 454, Helena Chapter # 210, and Mayetta Chapter # 383, OES. Those surviving are his wife of 53 years; daughters: Dawn Harris, Karen Chance (Jim), and Connie Ridgeway (Brad); a son: Mark (Angie); 6 grandsons; twin granddaughters; and a great-granddaughter. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave., Topeka. Interment will be in Rochester Cemetery. Masonic services will be conducted by Golden Rule Lodge # 90, and military honors by Kansas Army National Guard. Merle will lie in state after 2:00 PM, Sun., at the funeral chapel where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice Care, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606-2800 or KS Masonic Foundation for KU Med. Cnt. Cancer Research, POB 1217, Topeka, KS 66601-1217.