LT. COL. MERRILL ARDEN SWEITZER JR.

In Loving Memory

Lieutenant Colonel Merrill A. Sweitzer, Jr., United States Marine Corps 

February 20, 1935 - October 5, 2025 

Merrill Arden Sweitzer, Jr., 90, of Salladasburg, PA, died on October 5, 2025, at The

Gatehouse Hospice in Williamsport. 

Born on February 20, 1935, in Oval, PA, he was the oldest son of the late Merrill A. Sweitzer Sr. and Helen Sue Mantle Sweitzer and spent many years of his youth working on his granddad and uncle’s farms. Merrill attended Jersey Shore Area High School, graduating in 1953, and went on to attend Lock Haven University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1957.  While at Lock Haven University, Merrill was on the Dean’s List, President of the Secondary Education Association and Secretary of the Varsity Club.  As Captain of the Track and Field Team, he won 46 consecutive dual meet races (an all-time school high) and in 1956 and 1957, he held the state record for the mile, something that earned him the iconic nickname “Merrill the Miler.”  Years later, as a member of the Second Marine Division Track and Field Team at Camp Lejuene, NC, he earned his best times in the mile (4:17), half mile (1:58) and two-mile (9:42).  In 1970, he went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education from Miami University in Oxford Ohio. 

On December 28, 1957, in Jersey Shore’s Saint Luke’s Catholic Church, Merrill married his high school sweetheart, Helen Therese (Terry) Ann Lauler, the daughter of John W. Lauler M.D. and Ruth Ann Crandall, of Jersey  Shore.  Years later, his greatest disappointment was losing Terry at the young age of 46, but he proudly worked to raise their seven children solely and took great joy in watching them grow, graduate from college and become successful and responsible citizens.

Also in 1957, with encouragement from his brother-in-law John Lauler, Merrill joined the

United States Marine Corps, attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA and

 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Over a period of twenty years, spanning from

January 1958 to July 1978, he served as a Marine officer and was promoted to First Lieutenant, Captain, Major and eventually Lieutenant Colonel. Throughout his esteemed career, he consistently performed with professionalism, superior leadership and unwavering devotion to duty rendering distinguished service to his country, upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Highlights of his career include (1) Aide to the Commanding General Second

Marine Division, Major General Weisman (2) Commanding Officer, Marine Detachment

USS Hunley AS 31 stationed in Holy Loch, Scotland (3) Tactics Instructor at The Basic School, Quantico, VA (4) Operations Officer 6th Marines, 34th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 8th Marine Amphibious Brigade (5) Executive Officer 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division Reinforced, Vietnam (6) Marine Officer Instructor, Associate Professor,

Naval ROTC Unit, Miami University, Oxford, OH (7) Graduate of the Armed Forces Staff

College, Norfolk, VA (8) United Nations Military Observer, Golan Heights, Israel and (9)

Action Officer, Plans and Policy Division, Headquarters US Marine Corps, Washington, DC. 

The following is an example of Merrill’s outstanding leadership: As Executive Officer 1st Battalion, 7th Marines during the Vietnam War (1968) he exhibited outstanding managerial ability dissecting and coordinating the functions of the battalion staff. Participating in numerous major operations, he frequently exposed himself to intense enemy fire in order to encourage his men and personally control ground units and supporting elements. During the absence of the Battalion Commander in February 1968 during the TET offensive, then a Major, assumed command of his unit and was directed to conduct a search and destroy operation in the Western portion of his Battalions tactical area of responsibility. Emphasizing his vast knowledge of tactics, he boldly maneuvered his Marines in heavily jungled terrain for four days and nights while skillfully coordinating his activities with a United States Army tank unit. When the Battalion Command post came under a heavy volume of heavy mortar fire on the night of March 3rd, 1968, he effectively coordinated the fire of various supporting arms with the maneuver of his ground units for over two hours, forcing the enemy to flee. (His Battalion commander was in the field on Operation Tampa) 

Another example of exceptional meritorious conduct was as an Actions Officer in the Western Regional Branch, Plans Division, Headquarters USMC, where he was responsible for developing the position to be taken by the Commandant of the Marine Corps on Middle East/African area matters addressed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff relative general war plans, contingency operation plans, military assistance programs, force deployments and a myriad of similar high-level matters of vital importance to the security of the United States. In addition, he was involved with the implementations phase as the Marine Corps representative, Crisis Action Team, Maternal Military Command Center during six real world crises.  

His military decorations include Legion of Merit with combat V, a second Legion of

Merit, Purple Heart Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Combat Actions Ribbon,

Presidential Unit Citation 2 awards, Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Medal,

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with four stars, Vietnam

Honor Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, United Nations

Medal, Security Guard Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.  

After retiring from the Marines on June 30, 1978, Merrill began what would become a second successful career, when he became State College Area School District’s Director of Physical Plant, a position he held from July 1, 1978, to November 1, 1997. As Director, he was responsible for the supervision of 70 full-time and 30 part-time custodial maintenance employees ensuring they kept the schools clean, safe and operational. He initiated an energy conservation program that saved the school district on average $300,000 per year. He was a firm believer in total quality management and employed its principles in day-to-day physical plant operations, while he believed strongly in taking care of existing facilities by completing more than five thousand work orders per year. He was project manager for the construction of Mount Nittany Middle School, as well as additions to various elementary, middle and high schools. His energy management program was recognized by the Governor of Pennsylvania and a study he did regarding the “Impact of Facilities on Learning” was published with the American School and University Magazine February 1993. In its entirely, the district’s physical plant included 11 elementary schools, two middle and 2 high schools, administration buildings, four garage maintenance shops, over 300 acres of grounds and one million square feet of building space.  

Hunting and fishing were Merrill’s most favored pastimes, and he was his happiest when sharing in these activities with his sons and grandsons.  His favorite fishing spots were McMurrin Run and Sweitzer Stream in Oval, and he enjoyed being a member of the Texas Blockhouse Hunting Club.  Merrill especially enjoyed spending time exploring and hunting on his own property in Nygart Gap, home of Siegel Whiskey.  In recent  years, he took great pride in owning the property on which his original

Sweitzer ancestors had settled  when they immigrated to Pennsylvania from Germany; The Sweitzer Homestead. 

He looked forward to coffee with the Valley boys at the Oval Country store and meals at the Nippenose Tavern. He enjoyed gardening, hiking, jogging, walking, and viewing wildlife, and he found peace in the quiet beauty of the outdoors. He also enjoyed reading, music and dancing.  His favorite poem was “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost; His favorite Psalm the 23rd (King James Version); His favorite prayer was the “Lord's Prayer;” His favorite song “Amazing Grace;” Favorite movie Forrest Gump and favorite Bible reading I Corinthians Chapter 13 Verses 1-13.  Merrill gave of himself to his family, friends and country. He was a true patriot who loved life, and through his Christian faith, he was sustained by the hope of heaven.  

Merrill  is survived by his seven children; son John Sweitzer and his wife Sara from

Sharps Chapel, TN, and their  children Jason (wife Emily), Jennifer (husband Dave) and Laura (husband Ryan); Terry DonTigny and husband Steve from Falls Church, VA, and their daughter Emilie; Timothy Sweitzer of Oval, PA; David Sweitzer and his wife Michele of Avon CT and their sons Josh, Bobby, David Jr, Matthew and Nicholas; Michael Sweitzer and his wife Molly of Flat Rock, NC and children Madison, Samuel and Owen; Andrew Sweitzer and his wife Shannon of Dallas, PA and their children Caleb and Emma; Douglas Sweitzer and his wife Marcia of Brogue, PA and their daughters Terese and Nicolle (husband Luke). He is also survived by 7 great grandchildren (and counting).  His brother Ernest(deceased), and his wife Connie of Mifflingburg, PA; and his sister Roberta King of Pennsylvania Furnace, PA, and her three children Karen, Beth and Andy; and Sister Carolyn of Brookville, MD and her three children Joseph, Lori and John.