Merriman, Lester Thomas (Tom)

73, of Springfield, passed away at home May 30, 2021. He lived a life full of cars, planes, motorcycles, and kids. He was quick to tell a funny story, liked to tease and play pranks and never saw a car he didn’t like. He graduated from North HS, served in Vietnam as an Army Artillery Corporal, graduated from Clark Tech Police Academy in 1980, and served as a police officer in Springfield and Champaign Co. and was a police chief in Mechanicsburg, South Charleston, Tremont and South Solon. He also worked as a guard at London Penitentiary and often worked as a semi-truck driver. He changed jobs like he changed cars, but he never stopped working and was always well-respected in everything he did. He met life with a sense of humor and work ethic not commonly seen. He loved to ride motorcycles and became a Cessna pilot. He leaves behind his wife of 48 years Marianne, sisters Judy (spouse John) and Sandy (spouse Don), brother Ralph, son Thomas (spouse Kittie), daughters Darlene and Sheila, grandkids Aaron, Cooper, Ariel (spouse Jorge), Christian, Jonathan, Brittany, Colleen, Jarod, Brendon and great-grandchildren Brenden, Jacob, Skyler, Caroline and Leira. Visitation 11:00AM-12:00PM, Thursday, June 10, 2021 with a memorial service to follow at 12:00PM at Pitchin Community Church, 5566 Selma Pike, Springfield, Ohio. Arrangements in care of Ferncliff Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.FerncliffCemetery.org.