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Charles Merold, born to John Adam Merold and Maire Edith Spalding
Merold, was named after his uncle Charles Norman Merold. He was
the only child of four not to have his parents' red hair. Instead,
his was a thick rich brown.
"He was beautiful, even as a kid. We went to a local store
and there was candy on the counter for a penny a piece. I was
about six at the time. Charles was only a year older. Of course,
I didn't have a penny. Neither did Charlie. But when we left the
store, I had a candy. When Charlie looked down and saw what I'd
done, he was outraged. 'You took that!' 'No, I didn't. It was
free,' I told him. 'I thought it was free; the sign said take
one!' 'It wasn't free and you know it,' he told me. Maybe I knew
it. Maybe. I don't know... [Long pause.] He was the only one of
us kids who was ever worth anything."
* Story told by Charles Merold's younger
brother, 'PeeWee.' To hear him tell it, sad, quiet, and filled with
wistful admiration, is a heart wrenching thing, even sixty plus
years later.
Charles Merold was born in Akron, Ohio. He was a graduate of North
High and would later serve in the Korean War. During his tour, Charlie
worked the big guns, 155 artillery piece. He would marry twice.
Both times for very short periods. His first marriage, to a local
girl of some prestige, ended in an annulment. His second marriage
was to a Cuban alien, a woman he, his brother Robert and their Uncle
Bill met on Main Street in Akron, Ohio, not long after Charlie's
return from the Korean War. Charles managed to make it back from
the Korean War alive, but not whole. He died soon after his return.
Charlie is buried with his family in the Rose Hill Burial Park,
in Akron, Ohio.
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