Merrill S. Lentz Jr.

January 30, 1935 - January 21, 2017

Merrill S. Lentz Jr., 81, of New Sewickley Twp., passed away Saturday, January 21, 2017, in Heritage Valley Sewickley. Born January 30, 1935, in Rochester, a son of the late Merrill S. Sr. and Ruth Robinson Lentz, he was a retired civil engineer with the Bayer Corp., Robinson Twp., and had formerly worked with Michael Baker International, Stone & Webster Corp., Shippingport, and Belcan, Bridgeville, Pa. A U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of St. Felix Roman Catholic Parish, Freedom, and a 1964 graduate of Geneva College, having received his B.S. degree in Engineering. He was a member of the Freedom SOI, a life member of the NRA, and was an avid hunter, fisherman and golfer. Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Jeanne M. Petcovic Lentz; a daughter and son-in-law, Joy and Todd Bonzo, New Sewickley Twp.; four sons and two daughters-in-law, Michael V. "Mickey" and Karen Lentz, Rochester; Timothy E. Lentz Sr., New Sewickley Twp.; Lawrence J. Lentz, Georgia, and James M. Lentz and Barb Maines, Sheffield, Pa.; 12 grandchildren, Tonya, Timothy Jr., Tayla, Cody, Lawren, Nickolas, Hannah Grace, Cole, Brandon, Hunter Madison, Collin and Rachael; six great-grandchildren, Aleia, Yzzy, Austin, Cameron, Gabriel and Jacob; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Peggy and Joseph Fabri, Beaver Falls, and Doris and Larry Smedley, New Jersey, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by four brothers, David, Richard, Billy and Donnie, and three sisters, Patty, Helen and Becky. Friends will be received Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. in the WILLIAM MURPHY FUNERAL HOME INC., 349 Adams St., Rochester. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Felix Roman Catholic Church, Freedom. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Freedom. A Christian wake service will be held Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in the funeral home. The family wishes memorial contributions be made, if desired, to the DAV, 4219 Trindle Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011.