More detail on this person: Retired Colonel
Warren H. Mercer was a systems engineer for
General Electric/Lockheed Martin.
He died on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. He was 78.
He was born on Oct. 23, 1936, to Wilmon and Mary
Ann Gregory Mercer in Belcross, N.C.
Mercer was the oldest of four children. His family
moved to Rye, N.Y., and settled in Connecticut in
1948. He attended school in Waterbury, Conn. and
graduated from Naugatuck High School in 1958. He
was commissioned a second lieutenant through the
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). He
completed the Army Flight Training with a promise
of going to Air Flight School.
Mercer served as an Army officer with dedication
and outstanding service. In 1963, while in the
Republic of Vietnam, he made captain and he was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his
heroism in aerial flights.
Mercer returned to the United States to attend the
Infantry Advance Course at Fort Benning, Ga. in
1964, the same year he married Earlene H. Mercer,
whom he had met in 1962. Their son, Donald H.
Mercer was born in 1967 when he was assigned to
Fort Benning Infantry School.
Mercer served in the Army for 24 years until July
1983, when he was offered a job with General
Electric Corporation in King of Prussia.
Following his retirement from the Army, Mercer
worked as a systems engineer for more than 20
years with General Electric/Lockheed Martin. He
continued after his retirement to work for Vencor
Incorporated until his illness.
He received many decorations and medals including
the Distinguished Flying Cross; the Meritorious
Service Medal and two Purple Hearts.
Mercer joined Zion Baptist Church in Waterbury,
Conn. at an early age and he attended church or
chapel services throughout his military career.
Before moving to Pennsylvania, Mercer was a
member of Metropolitan AME Church in
Washington D.C., where he was presented a plaque
for faithful service and was also president of the
Florigia Club.
After moving to this region, Mercer joined Bethel
AME Church, Bryn Mawr in February 1984 along
with his family. He served as assistant church
treasurer; a member of the finance committee;
vice-chair of the trustee board and a member of
the Lay Organization until his death. In past
years, he served on Bethel Bryn Mawr Child Care
and Development Board where he was honored for
his work on the board. He served as president of
the 150 Club for several years. He was selected as
Man of the Year at the Bethel Bryn Mawr in 2002,
and he was nominated by his church and received
the Unsung Hero's Award presented by the
Philadelphia Conference Lay Organization.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
In addition to his wife and son, he is survived
by: his brother, Richard Mercer of Simsbury,
Conn.; sisters, Wilmer Bonner of Los Angeles,
Calif. and Michelle Holley (William) of Naugatuck,
Conn.; brother-in-law, Arthur Hardaway of
Columbus, Ga.; sister-in-law, Judith Smith
(Tyrone) of Solon, Ohio and other relatives and
friends.
Services will be held April 10 at the Bethel AME
Church, 50 S. Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr. Viewing is
at 9 a.m. Services will follow at 11 a.m.
DeBaptiste Funeral Homes handled the
arrangements.
This information was last updated 10/21/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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