Merle L. Gould

Merle L. Gould, 86, died at Mulberry Health Care Facility on Monday, August 6, 2012.  He was born in Fickle, Clinton County, Indiana, on March 15, 1926, to Everette E. and Ada Wilson Gould.  After graduating from Rossville High School in 1944 and enlisting in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he served aboard the USS Randolph aircraft carrier as a radar operator, third class.  He was in the battle of Iwo Jima and the Philippines.  He married Ruth McGill on July 27, 1946.

He received his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Advanced degrees in Education from Purdue University.  He lacked only his senior thesis for a Doctorate in School Administration.  From 1954 through 1989, he devoted his life to being an educator and administrator.  He began as an English teacher and basketball coach at Cromwell High School.  He served as high school principal at Williamsport, South Central (LaPorte County), Argos, North Miami, and Tri-High (Henry County).  In 1975, he accepted the position of school superintendent at Barr Reeve Community Schools, Montgomery, Indiana, and continued in this position until his retirement in 1989.  While serving as Barr-Reeve superintendent, Gould received the Indiana Public Schools Executive Fellowship Award and participated in a series of extensive educational sessions on school management.

He was a loyal Purdue fan and enjoyed wintering in Florida with his wife, playing golf and cards.  He was a member of the American Legion, Elks Club, Phi Delta Kappa, and the Indiana Association of Retired School Superintendents.

He is survived by two daughters, Sharon (Roger) Mangus of Union Mills, and Marcia (Terry) Griggs of Battle Ground; two sons, Dan (Debi) Gould of Ann Arbor, MI, and Bob (Suzi) Gould of Lebanon; one brother, Eugene (June) Gould of Sellersburg; one sister-in-law, Helen (Everette) Morgan of Lafayette; 15 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one brother, and one sister.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at Bodine Funeral Home in Rossville, from 1 pm until the funeral service at 2 pm.  Terry Griggs will officiate.

Burial will follow in Rossville Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Barr Reeve Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 25, Montgomery, IN, 47558, or the Lebanon Educational Foundation, 1005 Hendricks Dr., Lebanon, IN, 46052.