Merlyn Frank Silverthorn

[Guest Nicole]

Merlyn Frank Silverthorn died in his home the morning of April 7, 2016, at 85 years of age. There will be a celebration of life service on April 16, 2016, at 3 p.m. at Ames Middle School, 3914 Mortensen Road.

Merlyn was born on April 28, 1930, in Adair County. He was married on Jan. 13, 1951, to Helen Sneddon in Detroit. On May 12, 1956, he was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He returned to Iowa in 1958 and started his plumbing career with his own business “Silverthorn Plumbing” that he ran for 50 years in Ames. He took pride in his work and was widely known as an honest plumber. He will be remembered as a loving family man and for his devotion to his God. He spent his life helping others as a minister at the Ames Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Merlyn was able to enjoy celebrating his 65th wedding anniversary with his entire family at the beginning of this year.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; his daughter Susan (Scott) Greenawalt; five grandchildren, Joe (Terese) Mitchell, Tony (Breda) Mitchell, Holly (Danny) Trigg, James Mitchell, Tim (Vanessa) Mitchell; eleven great-grandchildren; one sister, Cheryl Kilp, of Bethel Park, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Mabel Silverthorn; and one brother, Wesley Silverthorn.

Source: http://amestrib.com/obituaries/merlyn-frank-silverthorn-april-28-1930-april-7-2016