Ronald Moffitt Mergenthaler

RONALD MOFFITT MERGENTHALER, age 81, of Fallston, MD, died on March 3, 2008 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, MD. Born January 22, 1927 in Baltimore, MD, he was the son of the late Gerold Edmund and Helen Moffitt Mergenthaler. He grew up in the Howard Park section of the city and attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute A course. He graduated in January 1945 and immediately entered the U.S. Navy. He attained the rank of EM3/C and served in the Pacific Theater at the of WWII. He was discharged in August of 1946 and worked for one year before entering Johns Hopkins School of Engineering in September of 1947, graduating with honors and a degree in Mechanical Engineering in June of 1950. He went to work for Bethlehem Steel Corporation in July of 1950 on their Loop program. He was assigned to the Mechanical Department where he worked as Open Hearth furnace Rebuild Engineer and Field Engineer. In 1955 he was promoted to the position of Assistant Master Mechanic of the Open Hearth Dept. and in 1964, was promoted to the position of Master Mechanic. In 1967, he was transferred to the steelmaking operations and promoted to the position of Assistant Superintendant. He worked in this capacity until retirement in December 1982.

Mr. Mergenthaler is survived by his wife Blanche Hill Mergenthaler of Fallston, MD; three children, Cheryl A. Gaultney of Churchville, MD, R. Scott Mergenthaler of Ellicott City, MD, and Gregory L. Mergenthaler of Elkins, WV; five grandchildren, Jamie Mergenthaler and Brent Mergenthaler, both of Elkins, WV, Matthew Mergenthaler and Kristin Mergenthaler, both of Ellicott City, MD, and Kellye Gaultney of Joppa, MD; one great-grandchild, McKenzie McCord of Joppa, MD. Also survived by two stepdaughters, Teresa Fedder of Abingdon, MD and Joyce Bowen of York, PA; two step-grandchildren, Michael Kruml of York, PA and Crystl Handley of Baltimore, MD; and two step great-grandchildren, Brianna E. Kruml and Alec J. Kruml, both of York, PA. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Robert P. Mergenthaler.