CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A memorial service for Richard and Dorothy Mertz of Clearlake Oaks will be held this Saturday, Dec. 14.

The service will begin at 3 p.m. at Clearlake Oaks Community United Methodist Church, 12487 The Plaza. Pastor John Pavoni will officiate.

Richard “Dick” Mertz, 78, died recently at the Veterans Hospital in Livermore.

His wife, Dorothy “Dottie” Baines Mertz, 84, died May 11.

Dottie Mertz was born March 18, 1929, in Pickens County, Alabama.

She was an active member of Clearlake Oaks Community United Methodist Church. Dottie was loved dearly by family and friends, including friends of her longtime residence in Clearlake Oaks. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Richard Mertz was born Sept. 13, 1935, in Williamsport, Penn.

He joined the Navy when he was 17 and was an Aviation Electronics Technician AT2 1952-1956 with VP-21 in Brunswick, Maine and served from 1958-1962 with VP-30 and flew on the P-2 Neptune. He was awarded the National Defense Ribbon during his first enlistment. He was an Electronics Technician at Kaiser Electronics.

Richard was an avid fisherman and hunter. He was most at peace while in the woods, field, lake, pond or stream. Richard will be greatly missed by friends and family.

Dottie was preceded in death by her parents, Sam W. Baines and Lucy Plowman Baines of Gordo, Ala., and her brother, Joe Baines.

Richard was preceded in death by his mother Emma “Sue” Totten and stepfather Marvin Totten of Clearlake Oaks.

Together, their survivors include sons, Jerry W. Smith of Gordo and Terry Smith (Marie) of Tuscaloosa; daughter, Ann Nyberg (John) of Modesto, Calif.; Dottie's sister, Louise Huffman of Gordo; Dottie's brother, Dale Baines (Linda) of Gordo; six grandchildren, Ronald Smith (Tania) of Reno, Nev., Jennifer Smith of Tuscaloosa, Jessica Harcrow (Chris) of Tuscaloosa, David Nyberg of Modesto, Calif., Victoria Murti (Ben) of Orange County, Calif., and Soll Avelino (Karla) of Valley Village, Calif.; and 10 great-grandchildren.