PRINCETOWN — Merlin G. Tolles, a National Guardsman and patriot life member of the NRA, lived in Princetown all his life. He died at Ellis Hospital on Sunday Nov. 5, 2017. He was 81.

The son of George and Ida (née Countryman) Tolles, he was born on May 31, 1936. As a youth, Mr. Tolles was a member of the Mountain View 4-H Club. He received several blue ribbons for his vegetables at the Altamont Fair.

A graduate of Draper High School, he was a lifelong member of the Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

He served his country in the Army National Guard in the A Company 105th Armored Rifle Battalion 27th division for seven years at Fort Drum, New York.

He retired from the state’s Department of Transportation after 40 years of service as a maintenance worker, clerk, and supervisor. He was also president of the Schenectady Chapter of the Civil Service Employees’ Association (CSEA) for three years. He belonged to the CSEA-AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees), and the retired public employees’ association.

Mr. Tolles was a patriot life member of the National Rifle Association since 1965. He was a life member of the North American Hunting Club since 1967. And he was a life member of the citizens’ committee for the right to keep and bear arms since 1978. He received the citizen of the year award from this organization three times. Mr. Tolles was also a member of the Wildlife Forever Organization, the New York State Sheriff’s Association and the Second Amendment Association.

He was passionate about hunting, fishing, and gardening, and was a fan of NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and Jeff Gordon. He also enjoyed the Green Bay Packers, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Merlin G. Tolles is survived by his wife, Joan M. Tolles, and by four stepchildren, Deborah Ortega and her husband, Raul, of Arizona; M. Gerald Grugan of Troy; Terry A. Garvey of South Carolina; and Dawn M. Gendron of Cohoes. He is also survived by 13 step-grandchildren and 13 step-great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, William Weisenforth and his wife, Georgianna; a brother-in-law, Gerard Contois; and several cousins.

His parents, George and Ida (née Countryman) Tolles, died before him, as did his sister-in-law, Janet Contois; his son-in-law, Gerald Gendron; his daughter-in-law, Rosemary Grugan; and his in-laws, William and Lillian Weisenforth.

Funeral Services will be Friday at 1 p.m. at the Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church at 3662 Giffords Church Road in Duanesburg. Calling hours will be Thursday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bond Funeral Home at 1614 Guilderland Ave. in Schenectady. Mourners may leave condolences online at  www.bondfuneralhome.com.

Interment will be in Schenectady Memorial Park in Rotterdam.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund, 3662 Giffords Church Rd., Duanesburg, NY  12056.