Merrill Reid Bivens

Merrill Reid Bivens, 90, of Carlisle, formerly of Menno Village, Chambersburg, PA died Saturday, January 10, 2015 at Carlisle Regional Medical Center, Carlisle, PA.
Born April 14, 1924 in Webster Mills, PA, he was a son of the late Elmer Reid and Edna (Mellott) Bivens. He was the widower of the late Helen Louise (Shinham) Bivens who died on January 8, 2015.
He was a graduate of Lemasters High School, Lemasters, PA where he ran high school track and finished 2nd in the 100 meter dash at the Lancaster Regional meet. Merrill was a WWII Army veteran in occupied Japan. He lived on a farm in the St. Thomas, PA area for 64 years and raised dairy and beef cattle. He was a Sunday school teacher, 4-H leader and Church Council member, was Director of Cumberland Valley Cooperative and a Fraternal Advisor for Lutheran Brotherhood. Merrill was a member of Mount Pisgah Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge #443 in Greencastle, Conochocheague Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Thrivent Franklin/Fulton County Chapter, Dietrich-Brechbill American Legion Post #612 in St. Thomas, PA, American Association of Retired Persons, Norland Chapter #3261 and a volunteer at Menno Haven Retirement Community in Chambersburg. For more than 25 years, he managed a food program for low income and needy families for Thrivent Chapter for Lutherans in coordination with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Merrill has donated his body to the Humanity Gifts Registry for anatomical study and research.
Merrill is survived by a daughter, Anna Margaret Bivens Scott (and husband Thomas) of Carlisle; and two granddaughters, Emily Alane Scott Geddes (and husband Robert) of Holmes, PA and their children, Robert, Joshua, and Michael and Janet Lynn Scott Donovan (and husband Brian) of Swarthmore, PA and their children, Claire and Scott.
Celebration of Life services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 31, 2015 at Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 North Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA. Celebrant will be Chaplain Judy Strayer. Private interment will be in the Union Cemetery, McConnellsburg, PA. There will be a visitation Saturday, January 31, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the services.
Memorial contributions may be made to Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, Cumberland Crossings, 1 Longsdorf Way, Carlisle, PA 17015-7623 or St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 111 Walnut Street, Boiling Springs, PA 17007.
To sign the guest book visit www.hoffmanroth.com