Robert J. Merkle

Robert J. Merkle, Sr., 90, died July 25, 2011, in his West Reading residence.

His wife, Jane C. (Keay) Merkle, died July 11, 2000.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late Frank A. and Margaret C. (Comiskey) Merkle.

He was employed for 44 years as an orthodontic technician by Barrer & White, West Reading.

He was a U.S. Air force veteran serving during WWII.

Robert is survived by two children, Robert J. Merkle, husband of Blair Archambeau, Chicago, IL and Cathy K. Upham, West Reading; two grandchildren, Margaret, wife of Phillip McGinnis and Whitney Keay Merkle and one great-granddaughter, Mary Jane McGinnis.

He was predeceased by his grandson, Andrew Keay Upham.

Service will be Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading, PA 19611. Entombment will be in Laureldale Cemetery Mausoleum. Friends may call Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 498 Bellevue Ave., Reading, PA 19605. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.