Merle Ann (King) Whipkey

Merle Ann (King) Whipkey, age 70 of Holbrook, PA passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2021 in her home with her family by her side from non-Hodgkin’s B-cell Lymphoma. She also bravely faced 35 years living with rheumatoid arthritis.

She was born on September 4, 1951 at the former Greene County Memorial Hospital in Waynesburg, PA, a daughter of the late Robert Wesley King and Gertrude Lucille (Tharp) King.

Merle graduated from Waynesburg High School in 1969 and worked for two years at the former Greene County Memorial Hospital until she married. She was a member of the Waynesburg First Assembly of God, where she attended all of her life and was a member for 40 years. She was involved in many church activities including greeter, singing in the choir, and helping to prepare and serve funeral meals. She also was a former assistant Sunday school teacher, Mission treasurer and secretary, children’s teacher and helped decorate the church for Christmas for 30 years.

On July 16, 1972 at the Brave Assembly of God Church, by the Rev. John DeNicola, she married her beloved husband, Ronald Ray Whipkey, who survives. They celebrated 49 years of marriage together. Also surviving, is one son, Ronald Adrian Whipkey and wife, Katrina of Waynesburg, PA and one daughter, Scarlett Ann Burns and husband Nyle of Wind Ridge, PA. Five wonderful grandchildren, Kyra, Seth, and Brooklyn Burns and Deakin and Brielle Whipkey; two sisters: Dawna (Clarence) Evans of Brave, PA, Carol (Eric) Ranieri of Prosperity, PA; two brothers: Robert (Corla) King of Waynesburg, PA, Richard (Belinda) King of Wind Ridge, PA. Also surviving is several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Deceased, in addition to her parents, is one sister, Sara Lee King and her in-laws, Ray and Wanda Whipkey.

She enjoyed doing many things including flower and vegetable gardening, canning, knitting, embroidery, reading especially biographies, autobiographies and books on the Civil War, and the Holocaust, listening to piano music, collecting pottery, and taking walks with her grandchildren. She always kept a clean house and loved to organize. She enjoyed traveling anywhere with her husband but her favorite vacation spots was the beach at Oak Island, NC, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Dollywood in TN.

The family wishes to thank Concordia Hospice for the care shown to Merle.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at the Kesterson-Rush Funeral Home, LLC., 3275 W. Roy Furman Hwy., Rogersville, PA 15359. Telephone: 724-499-5181. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 11am with Pastor James Galbraith officiating. Interment will follow at Rosemont Cemetery in Center Township.

Please view and sign the online tribute wall at www.kestersonfh.com.