Dover-Foxcroft- Willard Douglas Merrill was born December 9, 1920, the son of Barton Sr. and Lily Merrill. He and his brother, Barton Jr., joined the Army Air Corps November 24, 1940, shortly after graduating from Foxcroft Academy and were sent to the Philippines. They were at Nichols Airfield December 8, 1941, when they were attacked; they fought under extreme distress until the military surrender. They endured the Bataan death march but succumbed at Cabanatuan POW camp hours apart. Willard’s remains were unknown until DNA testing identified him after 82 years from a common grave at the POW camp. He will be returned to Maine June 7, 2025, and buried at the Dover Cemetery with his brother, Everett, 11AM Monday, June 9, 2025.

Willard is survived by his niece, Nancy Robinson and her husband, Sanford; nephew, Barton Merrill and his wife, Robin; great nieces, Jennifer Castonguay and her husband, Jarod, their sons, Kyle and Levi, and April Thebarge and her husband, Justin, and their son, Jax, and daughter, Remi.

Arrangements are in the care of the Lary Funeral Home.