Linvall "Lin" Merritt

MERRITT
Linvall Dean (Lin) Merritt, 93 of Decatur left into the loving arms of Jesus from his home on Friday August 7, 2026, with his loving family by his side.

A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held 11:00 am Thursday August 13, 2026, at West Decatur Church of God (4500 West Main Street Decatur, Il. 62522) with Pastor Ed Hollis officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 am on Thursday also at the church. Burial will be at 1:00 pm on Thursday at Camp Butler National Cemetery Springfield, IL. Memorials may be made to the New Life Pregnancy Center Decatur. Tanzyus-Logan Funeral Service and Care is in charge of the arrangements.

Lin was born in January of 1933, in Portsmouth, Ohio, son of Lewis and Nettie Merritt. He served in the U.S. Army. Lin worked in RV repair for many years. He along with his wife Virginia were over the road truckers in their 70’s and 80’s and traveled to all the continental United States. Lin grew up and raised his family in the Church of the Nazarene Christian faith. He was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association Heavenly Chariots Chapter. He married Virginia in January of 1953, in Urbana, Illinois and celebrated 73 years together.

Surviving is his wife Virginia Merritt, son, Randy (Susie) Merritt, daughter, Pamela Sibthorp, son, Steve (Valerie) Merritt all of Decatur, ten grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Hattie Crabtree and son-in-law, Charles D. Sibthorp.