Merrill Price

Merrill “Sonny” Price, 86, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023 at his home in Marshalltown.

Services for Merrill will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home beginning at 10:00 A.M. A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the services. He will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Marshalltown. Memorials in Merrill’s name may be directed to the American Legion Post 46 of Marshalltown. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Merrill James Price was born November 19, 1936 in Marshalltown, Iowa. He was the middle of four children born to Orba and Gaile (Bolle) Price. Merrill grew up in Marshalltown and attended school at Marshalltown High School where he graduated in the Class of 1954. Following his graduation, Merrill enlisted in the United States Air Force where he proudly served from 1954-1963. He lived in various states and bases throughout his time in the serve and he obtained the rank of Airman First Class when he was honorably discharged.

On September 6, 1958, Merrill was united in marriage to the love of his life, Shirley Ann Martin at the Marshalltown Church of the Nazarene. Merrill and Shirley had two children, Greg and Stephenie. Merrill began work for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad where he worked from 1963-1995. He began work for South Shore Railroad from 1996 until 2001. They made their homes in Kansas, Chicago, Indiana, and Marshalltown again in 2002.

Merrill was active in his community and served on the Solid Waste Commission, the City Code Enforcement, Nuisance Community alongside friends. He was also part of the Military Banner Program and sponsored the, “If you grew up in Marshalltown, IA” page. Additionally, he was the recipient of the Governors Volunteer Award in 2006. In his free time, Merrill was a historian looking up the railroad and locomotive history, was always one to lend a hand to anyone in need, reindexing and restoring numerous cemeteries including Marshall County and parts of Indiana and Illinois since 1974. He kept up to date with the railroad archives and this included for those who had passed before him.

He is survived by his daughter Stephenie (Randy) Stites of Overland Park, KS; his daughter-in-law, Katherine Price of Peoria; his grandchildren, Timothy Thiede, Ashlee Thiede, Taylor Price, Jordan Price, Corey Stites, Dylan Price and Ashley Stites; his great-grandchildren, Greyson, Tyler and Lily; his sister, Kathryn Pfeiffer of Peoria, AZ; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Shirley; his son Greg Price; sisters Marilyn Stull and Lucille Adkins; and his parents Orba and Gail Price.