Bentley A. Merrick DDS, Lowville, NY

Bentley A. Merrick, 95, passed peacefully late Friday afternoon, September 18th with his family by his side and under the care of Lewis County Hospice.

Bentley Atwood Anson “Ben” Merrick was born on July 31, 1931 in Yonkers, New York, the son of the late Bentley Almerin Glead and Jane Clarissa (Atwood) Merrick. Raised in Millburn, NJ, he graduated from Millburn High School in 1949, and went on to Hamilton College, and graduated from Penn Dental, University of Pennsylvania in 1956. Shortly after graduation he joined the navy and served from 1956 to 1958.

Ben was united in marriage on July 12, 1958 in Norfolk, VA, with Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Burns. Ben was finishing his naval career on USS Pocono, the flagship for the 6th fleet, and Betty was finishing school at William and Mary College (now Old Dominion University), Norfolk Division. They enjoyed lots of laughs and fun during their 68 years of marriage.

He opened his dental practice, Bentley A. Merrick, DDS PA in Chatham, NJ, which later became Chatham Dental Associates.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, their children and families, Susan Rose Merrick wife of the late Dr. Bentley Atwood Howe Merrick, their daughters, Dr. Katherine Merrick (Mitchell Joseph); and Jane (Alden) Merrick-Piper; Elizabeth J (“Jenny”) Merrick (Gerard) Vecchio, their daughters, Sabine Vecchio (Andrew) Baldwin and Mary A (“Lexy”) (Matthew Caraway - partner) Vecchio; and Charles Brooks (Kathleen) Merrick; Dr. Akihisa (Yasuko) Harada, our exchange student son; his niece and nephew, Jane (Robert) Miller; Davis (Jeannine) Cutting.

Ben is predeceased by his son, Bentley A. H. Merrick, D.M.D., Ben’s sister, Marian and her husband, Davis Cutting, and two nephews, Robert and Richard Cutting.

Ben deeply admired his family. Giving time and devotion with his family was the most important thing to him. He enjoyed tennis, golf, bridge, platform tennis, and anything competitive. He always made friends of all ages throughout his life. He also loved NY Yankee baseball.

Calling hours are at Sundquist Funeral Home on Saturday November 7th from 10:00 -11:00 A.M. with a short service following. A luncheon will follow.

Donations can be made in his name to Friends of Lewis County Hospice, Inc., P.O. Box 266, Lowville, NY 13367 or The LD Pankey Dental Foundation, Inc., One Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL 33149 or https://pankey.org/pankey-foundation/donation-form/; (Click "other" and write in the comment section: "In honor of Bentley A. Merrick, DDS")