Gladys Merten

Gladys B Merten, age 88, passed away at home on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 following an extended illness. She was born on October 13, 1923 in Matoaca,Virginia to Lily Stell and Thomas B. Belcher. Her beloved father, who died when she was seven years old, gave her the nickname Tootsie because of a candy she liked and she was known by that name by family and friends all of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert H. Merten, son Wayne Merten, granddaughter Grace Cullen Cantonwine and brother Thomas Belcher. She is survived by daughter Diane Cantonwine, (Fritz), four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, her sisters Irene Palmer and Myrtle Orcott and several nieces and nephews.

Tootsie was employed at Titmus Optical Co for forty years. As the parent of a child with Downs Syndrome, she was active with the early organization of a parent advocacy group with her son Wayne. A member of Swift Creek Baptist Church, she taught Sunday School and assisted with the â??Special Kidsâ? class. She loved her roses and dogwood trees at her home on Pinecroft Road in Dinwiddie and had fond memories of cook outs at her home with family and friends. After Wayneâ??s death she made a courageous choice to leave Virginia for her daughterâ??s home in Ohio. She was able to spend her last years with Diane and Fritz and getting to know her great grand-children.

Visitation will be Sunday, 3-5pm at J.T Moriss. Services will be held at Swift Creek Baptist Church on Monday, March 19th, at 11 am followed by burial at Southlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation in her honor to Swift Creek Baptist Church Special Ed Ministry or The Special Olympics.