Merritt F. Auman

Merritt F. Auman, 83, beloved husband of Marcia (Fuller) Auman, passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 in St. Joseph Medical Center. He was born in Womelsdorf, the son of the late Isette and Kathryn (Keppley) Auman.

A 1946 graduate of Womelsdorf High School, Merritt started his career in banking in 1949 as a general office clerk/teller at Shillington Savings and Loan and, without a college education, advanced into Management and eventually became the Chief Executive Officer of Great Valley Savings Association, a division of Fulton Financial Corporation. He retired in 1993 but continued as Chairman of the Board until 1998. Merritt was also a licensed real estate broker.

In 1956, Merritt joined the Lebanon "Singing Cedars" barbershop chorus, part of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA), now called the Barbershop Harmony Society. Over the years he sang with this chorus and the Lancaster "Red Rose" Chorus and was very involved with the administration of the organization. Most notable were his terms as President of the Mid-Atlantic District from 1974-1975 and International President of SPEBSQSA in 1982.

Merritt also served the community as a President and Board Member of the Children's Home of Reading (for 23 years), the United Way of Berks County, the Reading Symphony Orchestra Board (as President), the Hawk Mountain Boy Scout Council and as a member of the Berks County Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized for his participation, through the Rotary Club, in the 250th anniversary celebration of the City of Reading.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953.

In addition to his wife, Merritt is survived by 4 daughters – Deborah, wife of Glenn Kraft, Joann, wife of Vince Pacifico, Carolyn Young and Barbara, wife of Jeff Fegley and 6 grandchildren – Emily, Heidi, Jayme, Evan, Laura and Andrew. He is also survived by 2 sisters – Jean (Auman) Garrett, and Diane (Auman) Eckert and 1 brother – Ronald Auman, as well as a brother-in-law Alan Fuller, Florida and a sister-in-law Nansee Williams, Tennessee. He was predeceased by a sister, AnnaMae (Auman) Werner.

Services will be Sunday at 3 p.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading. Burial will be private in Pleasant View Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the funeral home. Please make contributions in Merritt's memory to: Barbershop Harmony Society 110 7th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37203-3704 or Children's Home of Reading c/o Fund Development 1010 Centre Avenue Reading, PA 19601. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.