JOHN SALVATORE MERLINO
SIMPSONVILLE, SC – John S. Merlino, of Simpsonville, SC (formerly of Norwich, NY) passed away on February 10, 2015 at the age of 84 at the Open Arms Hospice in Greenville, SC with family by his side.
John was born to parents John and Catherine (Senagra) Merlino on February 26, 1930 in Norwich NY. On July 1, 1950 at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church in Norwich, NY John married his wife of 65 years, Shirley Daniels who survives.
He attended Norwich High School and graduated in 1948. At the age of 18 (1948), John began work as a clerk at the A&P Grocery store, where he eventually became an Assistant Produce Manager and worked there for 40 years retiring in 1988. John always needed to be busy, so he then went back to work for Price Chopper in Norwich and for a short time worked at B&D Pool and Spa. John & Shirley moved to Simpsonville, South Carolina in 2000 at which time John went to work at the Bi-Low Grocery store near his home and worked there until 2012.
John, along with this wife Shirley was a member of the Greenville Italian Club. In his early years he loved fishing, deer hunting and camping with his family. He also enjoyed collecting coins and having a vegetable garden.
John is survived by his wife Shirley; his daughter & son-in-law, Cathy & Clarence Sharpe of Gastonia, NC; a son & daughter-in-law, Martin & Kathy (Bigger) Merlino of Landrum, SC; and oldest son & daughter-in-law, John J and Donna (Kramnich) Merlino of Smyrna, NY; 6 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John & Catherine; his sisters, Francis, Mary & Catherine. John also leaves behind very close friends, Don and Beth Osterhout, of Norwich NY, to whom they were friends with for 50 years and their families grew together in life.
At John & Shirley’s request no services were held and a cremation took place in Greenville, SC, shortly after John’s passing. On February 13, close friends and family gathered together at their home in Simpsonville, SC to remember John’s life. The family will gather together again this summer in Oxford, NY for a private memorial and scattering of John’s ashes. Shirley and her family are grateful for all condolences, kind words and quite moments spent together. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers; please send donations to the American Cancer Society.