Dr. Merton W. Steele, age 96, died peacefully on September 16, 2014. He was a resident of Oak Leaf Manor, Millersville.
Born in Philadelphia on April 21, 1918, he was the son of Dr. Marshall Kemble Steele and Bertelle Laubach Steele of Quarryville. He graduated from Quarryville High School and the University of Pennsylvania, the College and School of Dentistry.He practiced dentistry in the Lancaster area for forty years, retiring in 1986. Dr. Steele was widely regarded as an exceptional and gentle dentist.
A veteran of WWII, he served as dental officer at amphibious training bases in Maryland and California before shipping out on the attack transport USS Karnes, ferrying troops to the islands of the central Pacific.
Dr. Steele was a life member of the Lancaster County Dental Society, the Pennsylvania Dental Society and the American Dental Society.He was a charter member of the Lancaster Sertoma Club.He was also a member of the American Legion, Toastmasters Club, and Retired Officers Association. He was a member of the Willow Street United Church of Christ where he sang in the choir.
He enjoyed fishing, golf, tennis, bridge and other card games, playing music, and RVing.He was an avid reader of WWII history.Mert was especially fond of his late uncle, Frank Laubach, founder of "Each One Teach One," the literacy program that taught 60 million people to read.
He is survived by Joan Hartland Steele, his wife of 28 years, his two daughters, Dianne, wife of Dr. Paul Arendt of Denver, CO, and Susan Line of Spring City, PA, his daughter-in-law, Luci Steele of Lancaster, PA; and Joan's daughters, Janet, wife of Herb Maguire of Lancaster, PA and Patricia, wife of Keith Newton, OK. He is survived by five grand-children: Heather, wife of Christopher Kirkham of IL,Kiersten, wife of Josh Martinez of OK, Lindsay, wife of Greg Krause of CO, Zachary Arendt of CO, and Chase Line of PA; and three step-grandchildren: Emily Maguire of FL, and Terence and Lauren Newton of OK,. He is survived by six great-grandchildren: Talya, Lennox, and Chaz Steele Martinez, Taylor Krause, Lilianna Newton and Jackson Williams.
He was preceded in death by his son, Donald B. Steele, his first wife, Anne Steele, and three brothers: Dr. Marshall Steele, Dr. John Steele and Carlton Steele.Merton always found such joy in being a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather.He loved listening to his children's stories, and shared so many of his own stories as well. His wonderful pearls of wisdom are remembered by his children, and will be passed on to all the "grands" for generations to come. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
The memorial service will be held on Monday, October 6, at 10:00 am at Willow Street United Church of Christ. Guests may greet the family from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. A private interment will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Willow Street United Church of Christ, 2723 Willow Street Pike North, Willow Street, PA 17584, or Smile for a Lifetime Foundation, a dental charity sponsored by Albright & Thiry Orthodontics, 1834 Oregon Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601.Arrangements entrusted to Reynolds Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc, Quarryville, PA. www.reynoldsfuneralhome.net