Visitation:
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Secor Funeral Home
Willard, Ohio
Service:
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
11:00 AM
Secor Funeral Home
Willard, Ohio
Pastor Merlin Dye, 84, of Tiro, Ohio passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at Avita Galion Hospital in Galion, Ohio. He was born on October 11, 1941, in McDowell, Kentucky, to the late Malcom Kelly and Alma (Gayheart) Dye.
Pastor Merlin was the Pastor of Tiro Northern United Baptist Church and was a truck driver. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, music, was a member of a traveling family singing group, and most of all, he loved spending time with his family.
He will be greatly missed by his 4 children, Debra (Hershel) Rowe of Shelby, Sandy Hale of Plymouth, Sharon (Pastor Fred A.) Rowe of Willard, and Linda (Brian) Kuczynski of Richfield, Ohio; daughter-in-law, Beth Dye of Van Wert; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; siblings, Vernon Dye, of McDowell, Kentucky; Lance Dye of McDowell, Kentucky; Clotine Alley of Romulus, Michigan; Diana Conley of McDowell, Kentucky; Loraine (Quincy) Cook of Bevinsville, Kentucky; Genieve Spears of McDowell, Kentucky; and Lisa Dye of McDowell, Kentucky; sisters-in-law, Larby Jean Dye of Ashland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Pastor Merlin was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Judith K. (Smith) Dye whom he married on February 23, 1960; sons, Gary Dye and Kelly Dye; grandson, Nathan Rowe; great-great granddaughter, Lucile Wheeler; son-in-law, Rodney Hale; siblings, Timothy Dye, Yvonne Kilgore, Jewelldean Dye, Deborah Short, Claudine Dye, and Virgil Dye; and sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Pridemore.
Family and friends are invited to visit at the Secor Funeral Home in Willard, Ohio on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM and on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 from 10:00 AM until the time of his funeral service at 11:00 with Pastor Danny Hamilton officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Willard. Memorial contributions can be made to Tiro Northern United Baptist Church. Online condolences can be left for the family by visiting www.secorfuneralhomes.com.