Merlin Hubert Doud, 81, of Ft. Wayne, passed away Sunday evening, March 30, 2008 at Arbor Glen Retirement Center. He was born November 3, 1926 in Desloge, Mo to the late Hubert and Nora Doud. He left high school in 1943, his junior year, to join the U.S. Navy, and fight in World War II. Following the service, he married Bertha Boone, a pen pal from his Navy days. They had one son. He moved to California and became a first class machinist for Aero Jet, building rockets to send into space. While in California, he married Louise Bjorgum, now deceased. He returned to Ft. Wayne in 2000, where he received his high school diploma. He is the 4th veteran to receive his diploma from FWCS under the law, which allows honorable discharged veterans of World War I &II to obtain their diploma. He spent the last few years of his life volunteering for RSVP events and serving as a trustee for Harvester Missionary Church, where he was a member. He is survived buy his son, Royce E. Doud; sister Barbara E. Belote, brother Norman D. Doud; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Gloria Shirley Schory. Funeral services will be 1:00pm Friday at Covington Memorial Funeral Home, 8408 Covington Road with 1 hour of viewing before. Visitation will also take place on Thurs. from 6:00-8:00p.m. Preferred memorials are to the Harvester Missionary Church Building Fund or Easter Seals ARC.