The Rev. Merle R. “Skip” Pimentel

December 30, 2018 Last Updated: December 30, 2018 10:00 AM Death Notice

The Rev. Merle R. “Skip” Pimentel, 86, former pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Ipswich, Mass., and loving husband of Barbara A. (Newton) Pimentel died Nov. 21 in his Summer Street home following his long illness.

Born April 17, 1932, in Chicopee, Mass., he was the son of the late Anthony and Olive (Bridges) Pimentel.

He was raised in Chicopee, where he graduated from Chicopee High School with the Class of 1949.

In 1955, he married Barbara Ann Newton from Portersville, and continued his education at Gordon College. He graduated in 1961 with an M.A. and furthered his studies at Gordon Divinity School, graduating in 1964 with a master's in theology.

In 1961, the Rev. Pimentel became the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Ipswich, Mass., where he served until his retirement in 1998.

During these years, he served on many local and professional boards. He was a member of the Ipswich Rotary Club, served two terms on the Ipswich Board of Selectmen, was a Trustee at Beverly Hospital, and was a board member on the Ipswich Partnership, Care Dimensions, Senior Care, Oak Hill and the Ipswich Museum.

In retirement, he and his wife, Barbara, enjoyed their many European travels, especially their gourmet travels to Italy.

He will be remembered by all as a caring and loving member of both our community and far beyond.

In addition to his wife of 63 years, Barbara, he is survived by two daughters, Deborah M. Bassett and her partner, Thomas Vitale, of Ipswich, and Susan E. Pimentel and her wife, Marianne Kaltsunas, of Dedham, Mass.; his brothers-in-law, Sydney Floyd of Chicopee, and Bobby Godbee of Ipswich; and several nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Carol Floyd, formerly of Chicopee, and Nancy Godbee, formerly of Ipswich.

PIMENTEL — A funeral service for the Rev. Merle R. “Skip” Pimentel, who died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at First Church in Wenham, 1 Arbor St., Wenham, Mass. Family and friends are cordially welcomed.Interment will be private.Arrangements are under the direction of Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich, Mass.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to Care Dimensions, Suite B-102, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923.To leave a condolence please visit www.whittier-porter.com.