More detail on this person: Merrill Travis
Adamcik was born in El Campo, Texas on August
17, 1936 to Lewis and Lillie Adamcik. Merrill went
home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 22,
2013 due to complications from heart disease.
Merrill attended El Campo High School where he
was a member of the Ricebird band and Future
Farmers of America. He attended Texas A&M
where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and
played saxophone in the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.
Upon graduation in 1958 he attended and graduated
from Army Flight School in 1960. As an Army
Aviator, he was then assigned to the 14th Armored
Cavalry in Germany. In 1963, he returned to Ft.
Sill, Oklahoma for Advanced Artillery School, and
upon graduating, was assigned to Ft. Benning,
Georgia. There he began flying the Caribou or
CV-2B (cargo aircraft), which he flew in Vietnam
for one year. Later he spent his second year in
Vietnam flying the Chinook helicopter. He also
served in Korea. He and Doris, his companion of 49
years, married March 1964 in Houston, Texas. In
1972, he attended and graduated from the Army's
Command and General Staff College. Upon his
retirement in 1978 as Lt. Colonel, he and his
family moved back to El Campo, Texas where he
farmed for 15 years. He also served as Wharton
County Commissioner, Pct.3. He was a lifelong
member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and
also a member of the Texas A&M Association of
Former Students, Army Otter-Caribou Association,
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge #1749,
Czech Heritage Society, Disabled American
Veterans Chapter 72 and American Legion Post
#251, where he served as Past Commander. He
also served as Board Member of the El Campo
Heritage Center.
Through the years, Merrill made time for family
and friends and especially enjoyed gardening and
traveling. Watching Texas Aggie football was a
favorite pastime. He shared his passion for
gardening by giving away his prized homegrown
fruits and vegetables to family and friends. His
tremendous love for his grandchildren was evident
by their numerous pictures hung, taped and framed
around his office desk.
Visitation will begin at 1 pm on Friday, October
25, 2013 at Triska Funeral Home. The family will
receive visitors from 5 - 7 pm. Funeral service
will be at 2 pm on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at
First United Methodist Church with Pastor Beverly
Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow with
full military honors at Garden of Memories
Cemetery under the auspices of the American
Legion Post #251.
At the request of the family, memorial
contributions may be made to St. Paul United
Methodist Church, American Legion Post #251,
Elks Lodge #1749 or a charity of choice.
This information was last updated 11/21/2019
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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