Frederick S. 'Fred' Mertz, 71

OXFORD, Pa. - Frederick S. "Fred" Mertz of Oxford passed away Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, in Jennersville Regional Hospital, West Grove. He was 71.

Mr. Mertz was born in Lehighton, son of the late Kenneth and Bessie Koch Mertz.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving during the Korean War.

Mr. Mertz was employed as a truck driver with James H. Paxson & Sons Inc., Oxford, retiring in 2001.

He was an avid Steelers fan and a Civil War buff, and enjoyed woodworking.

Mr. Mertz was a former assistant coach of the Oxford High School football team.

He is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Chris and Tina Mertz of Youngsville, N.C., and Ricky and Kim Mertz of Fairmont, N.C.; three daughters and three sons-in-law, Roxann and Ray Parker of Dover, Del., and Selena and Mike Fry, and Starla and Mark Plummer, all of Milford, Del.; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his former wife and friend, Myrna Tiedgen of Harrington, Del.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, in the Edward L. Collins Funeral Home Inc., 86 Pine St., Oxford, where friends may call one hour earlier.

Burial with military honors will be in the Oxford Cemetery.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Oxford High School Football Boosters, in care of the funeral home.