Dr. Mervin Earl Meck 89 died peacefully on Monday April 9 at Francis Marion Rehabilitation and Hospice Center in Marion VA. Dr. Meck was born in Freeport IL on July 7 1917. He achieved his boyhood vision of becoming a doctor by earning a bachelor's degree from Goshen College in Goshen IN a nursing degree from Pennsylvania School of Nursing for Men in Philadelphia PA and ultimately a doctorate degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville MO. After graduating first in his medical school class in 1946 Dr. Meck established a clinic in Pineville West Virginia. In 1955 Dr. Meck moved to New Smyrna Beach FL where he practiced medicine until his retirement in 1987. Over the course of his career Dr. Meck served as Chief of Staff of Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach FL Chairman of the Board of the Osteopathic Medical Association Executive Director of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) President of FOMA and President of the American Osteopathic Association. Dr. Meck's professional efforts were honored through numerous awards including the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award from FOMA and the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award and 2005 Alumni of the Year Award from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition to medicine farming was a lifelong interest and avocation for Dr. Meck. He maintained a farm in New Smyrna Beach FL for almost 50 years. Survivors include his wife Louise Meck; sons M. Earl Meck II of Bocas del Toro Panama Bill Meck of New Smyrna Beach FL Dave Meck of Port Orange FL and Steve Meck of Tallahassee FL; brother Howard Meck of Pettisville OH; sisters Martha Sieber of Champaign IL Arlene Schaefer of Phoenix AZ and Ethel Schmucker of Archbold OH; grandsons Bill Meck II of New Smyrna Beach FL David Meck of Manhattan Beach CA Travis Meck of Port Orange FL and Jack Meck of Tallahassee FL; granddaughters Melissa Petersen of Vero Beach FL Nancy Meck of Atlanta GA Kelli Meck of New Smyrna Beach FL and Resh Meck of Tallahassee FL; great-grandsons Tyler Meck of Port Orange FL and Frasier Thompson of New Smyrna Beach FL; and great-granddaughter Alexandria Meck of Port Orange FL. Dr. Meck is preceded in death by his first wife Nancy and his second wife Kathryn. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday April 16 2007 at Edgewater New Smyrna Cemetery with Pastor Danny Broyles officiating. In lieu of flowers or other gifts donations to the memory of Dr. Meck may be made to the Francis Marion Rehabilitation and Hospice Center 100 Francis Marion Lane Marion VA 24354.