Elwin Floyd Messerall

Elwin Floyd (Ed) Messerall, 85, of Meadville, PA went to be with His Lord and Savior Monday, September 17, 2007 at his residence following a lengthy illness. He was born December 27, 1921 in Oil City, PA a son of the late Floyd and Lotus Anderhalt Messerall. He married Alice Marie (Peggy) Smith December 25, 1946 and she survives. He was a 1939 graduate of Meadville High School and a graduate of the University of Illinois where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing. He also attended Kent State University, Gannon University, and did coursework through the American Institute of Banking. He was awarded an Evangelical Teacher Training Associates Certificate from the Baptist Institute of Cleveland, OH June 11, 1973. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps. Veteran of World War II, serving as staff sergeant in the 383rd and 458th service squadrons furnishing ground crews for the operations of the 390th Bombardment Group H of the 8th Air Force. Stationed for 27 months at Framlingham East Suffolk, England, he was awarded the European and African-Middle Eastern Ribbons, Good Conduct Medal, and the Distinguished Unit Badge on May 1, 1944. He retired from Bank One, Cleveland in 1984 as regional administrator. He exercised overall supervision, coordination, and control over numerous bank branches, including staff development and training. He previously worked for 12 years for Associates Finance Company as a branch manager. He was past president of the Kiwanis Club of Madison, Madison, OH and past president of the Madison, OH Area Chamber of Commerce. He formerly served on the budget review committee of the United Way of Lake County, OH; and the building committee of the East End YMCA and Mackenzie Library, both of Madison. A long-time member of the Bible Baptist Church, North Madison, he served as a Sunday School teacher, deacon, trustee, and a member of the building committee which broke ground for a new building on September 10, 1976 and dedicated August 13, 1977. Upon returning to Meadville in 1989, he was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Survivors, in addition to his loving and devoted wife of 60 years, include a daughter, Darlene Cribbs and her husband Ronald of East Canton, OH; 3 sons, Thomas Messerall and his wife Anne of Alexandria, OH; Douglas Messerall and his wife Patricia of Meadville; and Daniel Messerall and his wife Holly of Croton, OH; loving grandfather and great-grandfather to his 12 grandchildren, Ronald Cribbs and his wife Kara of Beavercreek, OH; Amy Haas and her husband Matthew of Wooster, OH; Matthew Cribbs and his wife Amy of Canton, OH; 1st Lt. USAF Alec Messerall and his wife Tiffany stationed at Corpus Christie Naval Air Station, TX; Adam Messerall of Brandon, OH; Annie Messerall of Alexandria, OH; Julie Williams and her husband Daniel of Guys Mills, PA; Jennifer Messerall of Latrobe, PA; Jessica Messerall of Meadville; and Caleb, Josiah, and Noah Messerall, all of Croton, OH; 4 great-grandchildren, Joseph and Claire Haas and Gracie and Ellie Cribbs; a brother, Durward Paul Messerall of Noblesville, IN; a sister-in-law, Jane Messerall of Arlington Heights, IL; a niece Jennifer Westbrook and her husband Tony of LaGrange, GA; a nephew, John Messerall of LaGrange, GA; a great-niece, Ashton Westbrook; and 2 great-nephews, Eli and Daniel Westbrook. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, D. Maxine Messerall and a brother, Hudson Elwood Messerall. Calling hours will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville. A funeral service will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Douglas Messerall, son, and Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church officiating. Interment will be in Cochranton Cemetery with military honors provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2006, Meadville. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 543 Randolph St., or Hospice of Crawford County, 448 Pine St., both of Meadville, PA 16335.