BANGOR – Merle George Gilks, 95, passed away April 5, 2008, at a Bangor nursing home. He was born Jan. 12, 1913, in Old Town, the son of George Elbridge Gilks and Ethel May (Tripp) Gilks. He was a professional manufacturing engineer and worked for Reed Rolled Thread Die Co., Holden, Mass., for many years. He also worked as a plant manager for Rockford Products Co., Rockford, Ill., for many years. He founded Form-Roll Die Co. and G & R Industries. He was a lifetime member of the American Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He was also a member of Rockford Lodge No. 102 of Free Masons; Tabala Shriners, Rockford, Ill.; Scottish Rite of Free Masons; Rockford Products Retiree’s Organizations, Worcester (Mass.) Lodge No. 56 of Odd Fellows; and Bangor (Maine) Noontime Kiwanis Club. Merle was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Elva Mae (Morrison) Gilks; daughter, Dorothy L. (Gilks) Luitjens; and brothers, Harland Gilks and Franklin Gilks. He is survived by daughter, Merlene (Gilks) Curtis, wife of Alan Curtis, of Hooksett, N.H.; grandchildren, Donald Curtis and wife, Martha, of Powell, Ohio, Deborah (Curtis) Young and husband, Scott, of York, Linda (Curtis) Gordon and husband, Chris, of Center Moriches, N.Y., and Kathleen Gilks of Hermon; brother-in-law, Raymond Morrison and wife, Bertha, of University Place, Wash.; many cousins, nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 2, at Greenlawn Funeral Home, 300 State St., Bangor. Burial will be held Saturday, May 3, at Pine Grove Cemetery, West Bangor. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in his honor may be sent to Samaritans, Inc., 879 Hudson Road, Glenburn, ME 04401.
MERLE GEORGE GILKS
