George Edward MERRITT

Born

13 December 1922 , Troy, New York, USA

Died

12 June 1997 , East Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Parents & Family of George Edward MERRITT

Explore parents, grandparents, spouses, children, and the family connections surrounding George Edward MERRITT.

Parents

Dennie Kimball MERRITT Ida V HEBERT

Grandparents

Explore grandparents

Spouse & Children

View family relationships1 recorded relationship(s)

Family Tree

Open family tree View pedigree chart

Born: 13 December 1922 in Troy, New York, USA

Father: Dennie Kimball MERRITT

Mother: Ida V HEBERT

Maternal grandparents: Henry Joseph HEBERT , Marie "Mary" LAROSE

George Edward was a soldier in World War II.
Tracing Ancestors Through Military Service Records: Unveiling Family Heroes

Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

George Edward married Thelma Louise BLESSING 10 December 1945 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA . The couple had (at least) 2 children.
They divorced. Thelma Louise BLESSING was born 13 February 1923 in Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA (South Glastonbury). Thelma Louise died 23 September 2002 in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Thelma Louise was the child of Carl Heinrich "Charles Henry" BLESSING and Marie Berchtold PELTON.

George Edward MERRITT died 12 June 1997 in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

(s)

Dennie Kimball Merrit was his step-father. From ancestry.com "He never knew who his father was but his mother told him that if he had is father's surname his name would be George George like the Magician. She named his first name after his father's last name."

Details of the family tree of George appear below.

FAMILY HERITAGE FINDS

Gifts & Books Connected to This Family

Explore a family-history gift or research resource related to this ancestor.

Operation Underworld: How the Mafia and U.S. Government Teamed Up to Win World War II

World War II: The Definitive Visual History from Blitzkrieg to the Atom Bomb

Honoring WWII Heroes Ceramic Coffee Mug – World War II Veteran Tribute Gift

Crafted from durable ceramic, this mug is perfect for morning coffee, evening tea, or thoughtful reflection. The dignified 'Honoring WWII Heroes' caption makes it an especially meaningful gift for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, or as a keepsake for those with a personal connection to World War II history.

Spouse & Children of George Edward MERRITT

Hide Family & Children

George Edward MERRITT married

Thelma Louise BLESSING
Marriage date: 10 December 1945
Marriage place: Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Thelma Louise BLESSING was the child of Carl Heinrich "Charles Henry" BLESSING and Marie Berchtold PELTON

Marriage notes:

GEORGE MERRITT THELMA BLESSING 1945-12-10 HARTFORD

www.ctatatelibrarydata.org

They divorced in 1969.

Name: Georg E Merritt

Race: White

Birth Date: December 1922

Birth State: New York

Number of Previous Marriages: First

Education: 8 years elementary

Certificate Number: 4606

Spouse Name: Thel

Spouse Race: White

Spouse Birth State: Connecticut

Spouse Birth Date: February 1923

Spouse Number of Previous Marriages: First

Spouse Education: 1 or 2 years high school

Marriage State: Connecticut

Marriage Date: December 1945

Separation Date: March 1966

Children Under Age 18: One

Plaintiff: Wife

Plaintiff Town of Residence: Hampton, Connecticut

Decree Date: 10 Sep 1969

Type of Decree: Divorce granted to wife

Grounds for Divorce: Cruelty

Case Contested: No

Court Docket Number: 159524

Superior Court County of Decree: Hartford

Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Divorce Index, 1968-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Original data: "Connecticut Divorce Index, 1968-1997." Database. Connecticut Department of Public Health, Hartford, Connecticut. Archive Collection Number: DR09368.

Children of George Edward MERRITT and Thelma Louise BLESSING

Shirley Anne MERRITT

Born: 24 April 1947, Windsor, Connecticut, USA
Died: 4 January 2020, Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA

Married: Roy Lincoln SMITH 14 March 1964 Place: Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA

Married: Thomas Michael BURKE 15 April 1977

Married: Robert Coleman SOUCIER 1 April 2011 Place: East Hartford, Connecticut, USA

George Edward MERRITT

Born: 9 October 1950, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Died: 19 September 2008, East Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Married: Melonee A GEBEL 21 March 1987 Place: East Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Add Life Event

Have another record or photo?
Add a life event, census record, military record, obituary, achievement, or photograph for George Edward MERRITT.

Life & Records

Photos, life events, and historical records for George Edward MERRITT.

Hide Life & Records

Postcards and Memories of Troy, New York, USA

How to read this timeline
Records about George Edward MERRITT and family appear alongside historical events from the same years. Each item is labeled so you can quickly tell family records from historical context.

Show:

Use these buttons to focus on the ancestor's own records or the wider historical context.

Birth

Name: George E Merritt
Birth Date: 13 Dec 1922
Birth Place: Troy, New York, USA
Certificate Number: 103387

New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942

Source / record details
ancestry.com

1923 to 1927 - Television is invented (Vladimir Kosma Zworykin (Russia), Philo Taylor Farnsworth (United States))

1923 - Calvin Coolidge becomes President of the United States

1927 - The aerosol can is invented (Erik Rotheim, Norway)

1927 - April 7 – Bell Telephone Co. transmits an image of Herbert Hoover (then the Secretary of Commerce), which becomes the first successful long distance demonstration of television

1928 - Sliced bread (bread slicing machine) is invented by Otto Frederick Rohwedder (United States)

1929 - Herbert Hoover becomes President of the United States

1929 - October 29 - Black Tuesday - Stock market crash - The Great Depression Begins - It lasted until 1941 (WW2)

1930 Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut

Name: George E Merritt
event: Census
Event Date: 1930
Event Place: Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut
Gender: Male
Age: 7
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
birthPlace: New York
estimated Birth Year: 1923
Immigration Year:
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
father's birthPlace: Maine
mother's birthPlace: Canada
enumeration district number: 97
family number: 103
Sheet Number and Letter: 5B
Line Number: 70
nara publication: T626, roll 261
Film Number: 2339996
Digital Folder Number: 4531865
Image Number: 00659
Household Gender Age
parent Dennie K Merritt M 53
parent Ida V Merritt F 30
George E Merritt M 7
Albert M Merritt M 3

Source / record details
1930 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1930 - Scotch tape is invented (Richard Drew (3M), United States)

In 1930, on February 18, Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, marking a significant milestone in the study of our solar system.

1931 - The paper towel is invented (Arthur Scott, United States)

1931 - March 3 – The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the United States National anthem.

1933 - Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes President of the United States

1933 - December 5 – The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution is passed, repealing Prohibition

1934 - The metal beverage can is invented (American Can Co., United States)

1935 - The snowmobile was invented by Joseph Bombardier (Quebec, Canada)

1935 - August 14 – United States President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law

1938 - The ballpoint pen is invented (Lazlo Biro, Hungary)

1938-1944 - Sunscreen is invented (Franz Greiter, Switzerland and Benjamin Green, United States)

1938 - October 27 - Du Pont announces a name for its new synthetic yarn: nylon.

1940 - April - 1st electron microscope demonstrated (RCA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1941 - December 8 - (the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor) United States declares war on Japan (WW2)

World War II Draft Registration

Name: George Edward Merritt
Race: White
Age: 19
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 13 Dec 1922
Birth Place: Troy, New York, USA
Residence Place: Glastonbury, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Registration Date: 30 Jun 1942
Registration Place: Glastonbury, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Employer: Charles Kiestler
Height: 5 4
Weight: 129
Complexion: Light
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Next of Kin: Leila Patton
Household Members Age Relationship
George Edward Merritt 20 Self (Head)

Source / record details
FamilySearch.org. U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947.
The Draft

1944 - D-Day, which occurred on June 6, 1944, was a pivotal World War II operation where Allied forces launched a massive invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France. Known as Operation Overlord, it involved over 156,000 troops from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations. The operation aimed to liberate Western Europe from Nazi German control. The landings marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, leading to the eventual Allied victory in Europe.

1945 Marriage / Partner
George Edward MERRITT and Thelma Louise BLESSING 10 December 1945, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

He was 23 years old.

1945 - The atomic bomb is invented (J. Robert Oppenheimer, et al., United States)

The microwave oven was invented accidentally in 1945 by Percy Spencer, a Raytheon engineer. While testing a magnetron, he noticed microwaves melted a candy bar in his pocket. Experimenting further, he discovered microwaves could cook food quickly. Raytheon patented the process, and by 1947, they built the first commercial microwave oven, called the 'Radarange.' Initially used in commercial settings, microwaves becomes affordable for home use by the 1960s and 1970s, revolutionizing cooking.

1945 - Harry S. Truman becomes President of the United States

1945 - On September 2, 1945, World War II officially ended with the formal surrender of Japan. The surrender ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, where Japanese officials signed the Instrument of Surrender in the presence of Allied representatives, including General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz.

1947 Birth of Child
Shirley Anne MERRITT was born 24 April 1947, Windsor, Connecticut, USA (Poquonock)

George Edward was 24 years old.

1948 - Velcro is invented (George de Mestral, Switzerland)

1950 - June 25 - Korean War begins when North Korean forces invade South Korea.

1950 Birth of Child
George Edward MERRITT was born 9 October 1950, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

George Edward was 27 years old.

1953 - Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes President of the United States

1953 - On July 27, 1953, the Korean War ended with the signing of an armistice agreement at Panmunjom. This ceasefire halted the conflict between North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, backed by United Nations forces primarily from the United States. The agreement established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel, effectively maintaining the pre-war boundary and creating a buffer zone between the two Koreas.

1961 - John F. Kennedy becomes President of the United States

1961 - Vietnam War officially begins with 900 military advisors landing in Saigon.

1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day standoff in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast. The crisis is considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war. It began when American spy planes discovered the missiles, leading to a U.S. naval blockade of Cuba and intense negotiations. The crisis ended when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Turkey.

1963 - I Have a Dream Speech - Martin Luther King's Address at March on Washington August 28, 1963.

In 1963, on November 22, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza. The assassination shocked the nation and the world, leading to widespread mourning and a period of intense national introspection. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States shortly after Kennedy's death. The assassination sparked numerous conspiracy theories and investigations, with the Warren Commission ultimately concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination. Kennedy's death had a profound impact on American politics and society, marking the end of an era often referred to as 'Camelot.'

1964 Marriage of Child
Shirley Anne MERRITT married 14 March 1964, Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA to Roy Lincoln SMITH

1968 - The ATM is invented (Don Wetzel, United States)

1969 - Richard M. Nixon becomes President of the United States

1969 - July 20 - Apollo 11 - Man lands on the moon

June 17, 1972 – August 9, 1974 - Watergate Scandal began with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., in 1972. Members of President Richard Nixon's administration attempted to cover up their involvement. The scandal led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration, the resignation of President Nixon in 1974, and the indictment of several administration officials.

1973 - January 22 - Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 and Doe v. Bolton, 410 U.S. 179: The U.S. Supreme Court declares that the Constitution protects women’s right to terminate an early pregnancy, thus making abortion legal in the U.S.

1973 - March 29 - The last United States soldier leaves Vietnam

The cell phone was invented by Martin Cooper of Motorola. On April 3, 1973, he made the first handheld mobile phone call with the Motorola DynaTAC. This device weighed 2.5 pounds and was 10 inches long, offering 30 minutes of talk time and requiring 10 hours to charge. The first commercial cell phone was released in 1983, revolutionizing communication and leading to the modern smartphones we use today.

1974 - Gerald R. Ford becomes President of the United States after the resignation of Richard Nixon.

1977 - Jimmy Carter becomes President of the United States

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State occurred on May 18, triggered by a 5.1 magnitude earthquake. It caused the largest landslide in recorded history, followed by a massive lateral blast. The eruption killed 57 people, destroyed 250 homes, and spread ash across the U.S.

1981 - Ronald Reagan becomes President of the United States

1981 - June 5 - First reported case of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

1982 - The camcorder is invented (Sony Corp., Japan)

1983 - The laptop computer is invented (Radio Shack Corp., United States)

1986 - January 28 - Space Shuttle Challenger accident - The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members.

1987 Marriage of Child
George Edward MERRITT married 21 March 1987, East Hartford, Connecticut, USA to Melonee A GEBEL

1989 - The World Wide Web is invented at CERN (Tim Berners-Lee, UK)

1989 - George H. W. Bush becomes President of the United States

1993 - William J. Clinton becomes President of the United States

1997 Death

First Name: George
Last Name: Merritt
Gender: Male
Birth Date: Dec 13, 1922
Death Date: Jun 12, 1997
Age: 74
Residence: East Hartford, Hartford Connecticut
Birth Location: New York
Death Location: East Hartford, Hartford, CT
Record Type: Death Record
Groom's Marital Status: Divorced
Collection: Connecticut Death Records

Source Information
Source: Connecticut Department of Public Health
Years: 1949 to 2007
Description: This collection of Connecticut death records was provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. It contains data from 1949 to 2007.
Address: 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134

Connecticut, Death Index, 1949-2001
Name: George Merritt
event: Death
Event Date: 12 Jun 1997
Event Place: East Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
Residence: East Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
street address: 155 WOODLAWN CIR
Gender: Male
Age: 74
Marital Status: Divorced
Race: White
hispanic origin:
Occupation: SELF-EMPLOYED
industry: ROOFING &

Read full story

Obituary

Hartford Courant, The (CT) - June 17, 1997

Deceased Name: MERRITT. GEORGE EDWARD MERRITT SR.

MERRITT. George Edward Merritt Sr. 74, of East Hartford, died Thursday (June 12,1997) at a local convalescent home. Born in Troy, NY, he has lived in East Hartford for many years. Prior to his retirement, he was self employed and owned his own roofing and siding business. He was a U.S. Army Veteran having served in World War II. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post No. 2083 of East Hartford for many years. He is survived by his former wife, Thelma Merritt; a son, George Edward Merritt Jr. and h is wife Melonee; a daughter, Shirley Burke, all of East Hartford; a
Brother: , Albert H. Merritt of Santa Cruz, CA; two
Sister: s, Betty Davison of Spokane, WA and Dorothy Hayes of New Britain; eight grandchildren; four step grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; three step great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be Friday, June 20, 11:30 a.m. in the veterans

Read full story