Obituary: Frank Bynum Merritt Jr.

Frank Bynum Merritt Jr., 89 years old, passed away on Sunday March 8, 2026. He dedicated his life to being a wonderful husband, father and grandfather.  

Frank was born in 1936 in Salisbury, North Carolina, to Frank Bynum Merritt, Sr. and Millie Louise (Horah) Merritt.

He attended Granite Quarry High School and participated in football, baseball and the band. Upon graduation, he proudly served in the United States Air Force as a Cryptographic Operator. Upon leaving the Air Force, he attended Catawba College. Frank went to work for American Commercial Bank in the spring of 1959, which later became Bank of America, where he retired in 1999.

He met the love of his life, Ann (Dina) Brown, in November 1959. They married in August 1960 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and started their life together. They had two beautiful children, Mark Edward, born in 1962, and Melanie Ann, born in 1967.

When Frank retired in 1999, they bought a piece of property in Oakland, Florida, built a house and permanently moved there in August 2000. Frank was very involved in the church (Oakland Presbyterian Church), the town of Oakland and Oakland Nature Preserve, volunteering on various committees. His passions were gardening and barbecuing!

Frank is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Dina Merritt; his son, Mark (Traci), of Lexington, North Carolina; daughter, Melanie (Randy), of Winter Garden, Florida; three grandchildren, Joshua (Lindsay), of Lewisville, North Carolina, Payton, of Orlando, Florida, and Joely, of Lexington, North Carolina; and one great-grandchild, Hunter, of Lewisville, North Carolina He is also survived by his brother, Charlie Merritt, of Salisbury, North Carolina.

A Celebration of his Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Oakland Presbyterian Church, 218 E. Oakland Ave., Oakland, Florida. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Oakland Presbyterian Church in Frank’s honor.