Wilson J. Merrick, 93, of Swainton, NJ, passed away Sunday, June 16, 2024 at his daughter's home.  Born in Trenton, he and his wife Ruth resided in Robbinsville for 10 years prior to moving to Cape May for 35 years. He later lived in Alabama and Louisiana before moving back to New Jersey 10 years ago. Wilson was a US Army veteran serving in the Korean war.  He worked for the Department of Agriculture for 33 years as a Conservation Technician for the Soil Conservation Research Center in New Brunswick.  In 1962 he relocated to the Cape May Court House office and began working on beach retention and helped to breed the dune grasses that are planted on all local New Jersey beaches and beach shrubbery that is planted from Maine to Florida.  After his retirement in 1990, he and his wife Ruth were full time campers for several years before settling in Alabama.

Wilson was active with many groups including as a 4-H leader, a member of the Hamilton Grange, the Cape May County Ruritan, the StarCraft Camper Club, and his local American Legion when in Alabama.

Son of the late Wilson P. and Lillian Merrick, he was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth Merrick and his second wife, Delores Harwill Merrick. Wilson is survived by his four children, Joan Merrick Clark and her husband Greg, Lillian Turchi and her husband Nick, John W. Merrick and his wife Laurie, and Michael Merrick and his wife Elizabeth; 9 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 8 great great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held Thursday, June 20th from 1-2pm with a funeral service to begin at 2pm at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St., Allentown, NJ. Interment will follow in Colonial Memorial Park, Hamilton.

Memorial contributions may be made in Wilson's name to VAVS and sent to VA Medical Center, c/o Voluntary Service (135), Canandaigua, New York 14424 or Donate online | Veteran Affairs (va.gov)