Mr. James K. Merritt, age 82 of Hot Springs Village, died Friday, January 30, 2009 in the Golden Living Center in Hot Springs. He was born in San Diego, California on January 29, 1927 to the late Raymond Joseph and Flora Osborn Merritt. Reared and educated in Decatur, Illinois, he retired at the age of 58 as a crane operator for Local #12 in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Merritt was a Marine Corps veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. He was a Purple Heart recipient, having been wounded on Okinawa, and was a tank driver while stationed in Korea. A motorcycle enthusiast, he loved to ride Harley-Davidsons. Mr. Merritt also built and flew RC airplanes. He was a Methodist by denomination.

He is survived by his wife, Velma Gowland Merritt, to whom he was married on November 17, 1995 in Las Vegas, Nevada; by a daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Chris Beasley of Hot Springs Village; by a son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Michelle Hunt of Palmdale, California; and by seven grandchildren.

Mr. Merritt was also preceded in death by two brothers. A graveside memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2009 at two o'clock in the afternoon in the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock with Reverend James Burns officiating. Full military honors will be provided by the Thaddeus Carraway VFW Post 2278 of Hot Springs. J. A. Funk Funeral Home of Malvern is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials are requested to your local VFW Post.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com