Merwin Donald “Pug” Richman, Sr. passed into the arms of his Savior on Thursday evening, March 22 at home, surrounded by his family.

He was born on January 23, 1931, the second son of Oakford Walker Richman, Sr. and his wife Elizabeth Grier Richman. He lived in the Elmer area for most of his childhood and attended Monroeville Elementary School. His family moved to Compromise Road, Mannington Township in 1946 and purchased a 100 acre dairy farm on the same road in 1954, when he was on his honeymoon. He and his wife, the former Betty Jane Hamilton, have lived there for their entire 64 year marriage.

In 1979 he sold his dairy herd and worked behind the parts counter at Owens Supply Company in Woodstown and FarmRite in Shiloh until he retired in 2007. He also worked intermittently for the Salem County Road Department.

He was a 4-H and FFA member and a proud graduate of Woodstown High School, Class of 1948. He completed the Rutgers Short Course for Agriculture and was a member of the Salem County Board of Agriculture, Salem County Fair Association, and West Park United Methodist Church, where he served on the Board of Trustees for several years.

He was a past chief and lifelong member of the Mannington Township Volunteer Fire Company. A staunch supporter of public and agricultural education, he served on the Mannington Township School Board from 1960-1975, where he was president for 6 years. He received the NJ 4-H Alumni Award in 1992 and the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award from the Salem County Board of Agriculture in 1999.

He was predeceased by his daughter Betty Jane (Dollie) in 1966 and his brother Oakie in 1973.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children M.Donald Jr and Kim Richman, John and Melanie Richman, Carol Joan and David Suiter, all of Mannington, and James and Olga Richman of Somers Point; grandchildren Amanda, Matthew and Zachary Richman, Hanna and Bradley Richman, Aidan and Devon Suiter; step great-granddaughter Janessa Algarin; three foster grandchildren; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, several cousins, nieces and nephews and Annette Devitt, who he considered family. He loved them all dearly.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 31 at 2pm at West Park United Methodist Church, 625 Shiloh Pike, Bridgeton. Visitation and fellowship will follow. Donations in his memory may be sent to:

Salem County 4-H Foundation, c/o Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 51 Cheney Road, Woodstown, NJ 08098

Mannington Township Fire Company, 175 Woodstown Road Rt.45, Mannington, NJ 08079

or West Park United Methodist Church Building Fund, 625 Shiloh Pike Rt.49, Bridgeton, NJ 08302

Please visit www.htlayton.com to leave a note of condolence to the family. Arrangements are by the H.T. Layton Funeral Home & Cremation Service.