Arline Merrick

Arline passed away peacefully in the home of her daughter in Woodland. She had lived in Chicago, San Francisco, Long Beach, Sacramento, Cupertino, Lake Almanor, Elk Grove and Davis in her long and eventful life.

She was born Arline Elizabeth Forrer in Chicago, Ill. to Hendrik (Henry) Forrer and Emma Margarette (Schneider) Forrer on Aug. 21, 1922, being the youngest of their four children (Geraldine, Henry, Emma).  All preceded her in death.

During WWII she was sent to San Francisco to work as an overseas telephone operator to fill in for the positions of many previous operators who had taken higher paying “Rosie the Riveter” jobs in the Bay Area. After her year of duty in San Francisco, she married her neighborhood pal, Robert Benjamin Merrick in Tennessee where he was on leave in 1944.

Together they had four children, Robert Benjamin Jr., Sandra Jean, Roy Stewart, and Cynthia Louise who were raised in the Santa Clara Valley area as Bob worked at NASA Moffett Field.  They were married 72 years before Bob’s passing in 2016.

Arline worked many years as a school secretary, allowing her summers and holidays off with the kids.  She was active and fun-loving, participating in volley ball, bowling leagues, PTA, Girl Scouts, square dancing, and golf.  The family went on many cross-country adventures together.  She instilled a love of the outdoors in her family. She ardently stood up for what was right and was never one to be taken advantage of. She continued to live independently at Atria Covell Gardens until the 2020 Covid 19 pandemic, at which time she moved to her daughter and son-in-law’s home.  In the quiet comfort of their home she could finally let her guard down and pass to heaven where she prayed every night to go.

Arline leaves behind son Bob Merrick (Sandee) of Dubuque, Iowa; son Roy Merrick of West Sacramento; daughter Cyndi Young (Keith) of Woodland; grandchildren Kelley Christianson (Dane), Sarah Till (Pat), Laura Merrick, Cory Reynoldson (Priscilla), Jamy Reynoldson (Tonya), Dan Merrick (Jamilah), Amanda McNicholas (Joe), and Neal Young (Michelle); and 16 great grandchildren.  Her daughter Sandra Reynoldson preceded her.

A private Service of Internment will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon.