More detail on this person: Merle Eugene Bounds, 87, a long-time resident of Williamsburg, died
peacefully on November 2, 2013 after a long struggle with dementia. Mr. Bounds' life was the story
of the 20th century. Born in the Roaring Twenties, he spent his early childhood on a farm in dust
bowl Oklahoma. As a young teenager, he left home to work in the oil fields and then in the shipyards
of Long Beach, CA. At 16, he enlisted in the United States Marines and fought in the Pacific in
World War II. After the war, he attended Oklahoma State University on the G.I. Bill, then was
commissioned into the United States Army as a reserve officer. He fell in love with and married a
Virginia school teacher, Nancy Heffernan, in 1951. He flew fixed wing aircraft and early helicopters
in the Korean War, served in Cold War Europe, flew helicopters during two tours of Vietnam and
retired from the Army in the early 70's with numerous commendations including two Bronze Stars and
three individual Air Medals. In 1965, he built a home in Williamsburg, VA. After retiring from the
Army, he worked for the predecessor to Sun Trust Bank in Williamsburg, retiring as a Vice President
after a full second career. He was a long-time parishioner of St. Bede Catholic Church and a member
of the Kiwanis Club. After retirement, he traveled widely with his wife and enjoyed visiting his
children and grandchildren. After his wife's death in 2008, Mr. Bounds lived in Windsor Meade of
Williamsburg until moving to assisted living in Northern Virginia to be near a daughter in 2012. Mr.
Bounds is survived by his children, Kevin B. Bounds of Virginia Beach, Ann Bounds Newell of McLean,
and Jane Dannehl Strautz of Onley, six grandchildren, his oldest sister, Gladys Presnell and his
youngest brother, Gary L. Bounds. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Bede Catholic Church, 3686
Ironbound Rd., Williamsburg, VA at 11:00 on Saturday, November 16th.
Published in Daily Press on Nov. 12, 2013
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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