Russell K. Merriman, 69, of West Deer Township, Gibsonia, formerly of Mars, died Friday afternoon at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Township.

He was born in Glenfield June 17, 1940, the son of the late Sylvester and Mary Louise Knecht Merriman.

He was a truck driver for Vogel Disposal in Mars for many years and was a member of Teamster's Union Local 249.

He was a deacon and usher for the Allison Park Assembly of God Church.

An Army veteran of the Vietnam War, he was a member of the Mars American Legion. He also belonged to the Mars VFW Horseshoe League.

He was a past president of Mars Borough Council, a longtime member of the Mars Volunteer Fire Company, now the Adams Area Fire District, and had been in the Mars EMT Service.

Surviving are his wife, Corinne E. Snyder Merriman, who he married April 28, 1965; two daughters, Amanda E. Merriman and Sarah J. Slaughter (Ron), both of West Deer; two grandchildren, Kenneth Russell and Bethany Corinne; five sisters, Phyllis Falcona (Joe) of Ross Township, Norma Fisher of Wyoming, Carolyn "Midge" Ganster of Freedom, Eunice Guenther of Mars and Nancy Merriman-Koegler of Cranberry Township; six brothers, William Merriman (Betty) of Ingomar, James Merriman (Twila) of Maryland, Robert Merriman (Linda) of Florida, Joseph Merriman (Kathy) of Cranberry Township and David Merriman of Mars, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Gwendolyn Merriman, and a sister, Janet Merriman.

<B>MERRIMAN</B> — Friends of Russell K. Merriman, who died Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the <B>McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home</B>, 238 Crowe Ave., Mars. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Allison Park Assembly of God Church, 2326 Duncan Ave., Allison Park, with the Rev. James Callahan officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Royal Cemetery, Shaler Township.Memorials donations can be made to Allison Park Assembly of God Church, 2326 Duncan Avenue, Allison Park, PA 15101.Directions and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.