March 1, 1923 – June 16, 2021
KILL DEVIL HILLS — Merritt Rickman Camp of Kill Devil Hills, NC passed June 16, 2021. He was 98 years old. Mr. Camp was born March 1, 1923, in Winston Salem, NC, to Zebulon Carter Camp and Florence Grover Camp. He had three sisters, Ruth Donahue, Marian Sharper, JoAnn Dillon, all of whom predeceased him.
Merritt was raised in Washington, DC, and joined the US Navy in 1942, at the age of 19. He served on the USS Ingraham (DD-694) in the Pacific Theatre of WWII at the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Merritt married Ruth Valerie Cassidy in June 1947, settling in Mineola, Long Island, NY. They raised two sons, John Rickman Camp and Stephen Carter Camp. Ruth Camp passed away in 1964.
He worked as a machinist for 39 years at Ellaneff Machine Tool Co., Corona, NY, retiring in 1985.
Merritt married Florence Randall Perna in 1969, gaining three adult stepsons, Randy Perna (now deceased), Raymond Perna (now deceased), and Craig Perna. Merritt and Florence lived on Long Island NY until his retirement. They then relocated to Manteo, NC. Florence passed away in November 2010.
Merritt and Florence were members of Grace Lutheran Church, worshipping there since 1985. From his workshop, he produced wooden crosses as gifts to new church members.
Merritt liked fishing and loved bowling. He participated in Grace Lutheran’s Bowling Fellowship, and he bowled into his mid 90’s!
In 2017, Merritt moved to Spring Arbor of The Outer Banks Assisted Living where he resided until his death.
Merritt is survived by sons John Camp of Ocala, FL, and Stephen Camp of Sequim, WA, as well 8 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren and great-step-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service for Merritt Camp will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, September 16, 2021, at Grace Lutheran Church By-The-Sea, Nags Head, NC. He will be interred at Roanoke Island Memorial Gardens in Manteo.
To plant a tree in memory of Mr. Camp or send flowers to the family, please visit www.TwifordFH.com/send-flowers.
Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.
