Merlin Pauling

Weslaco-

Merlin Albert Pauling, 80, of Weslaco Texas, formerly Waterloo Iowa, Lakefield Minnesota, and Bethel Alaska, died October 14th, 2024 at his home.

Merlin was born January 20th, 1944 in Worthington Minnesota. The youngest son of Henry and Edna Pauling. Merlin left school at a young age to help his brothers run the family farm near Lakefield, Minnesota. Merlin later obtained a GED, while his kids attended school. He joined the National Guard in 1962 attaining the rank of Corporal, Qualified Marksman and Sharpshooter. He met and soon married Bonnie Bellows on November 24th 1962. They moved to Waterloo, Iowa in 1966 and began working in automotive parts retail. In 1972 Pauling Auto Supply opened which they ran for the next 18 years. They moved back to Little Spirit Lake to care for Bonnie's mom, Evelyn, and the campground after her father, Vinton, passed in 1991. With Evelyn's encouragement they moved to Alaska in 1994. Merlin had found and taken a position at an auto parts store in Bethel, Alaska where their daughter was living. Feeling the pull of family back home they returned to Waterloo in 1997. They enjoyed their grandchildren, attending games and concerts, camping out, and feeding family and friends. After 7 years as snow birds, winter Texans, having realized they were much more active with their many friends there, they decided to make the move permanent. In late spring 2016 they bought a place in Weslaco, Texas. With Bonnie's unexpected passing, July 2nd 2016, Merlin chose to fulfill their plan and completed the move, returning to Waterloo for several consecutive summers until the travel became too much of a burden.

Merlin and Bonnie built a wonderful life, centered on family and friends. Growing up there was always a head count before dinner, who's staying was a guessing game, as was how many guys are in the garage working on cars or other projects. During those years we hosted two exchange students who became family, Lenka, from Chile and Steffen, from Germany. 

Survivors include a daughter Barbara (Bob) Himschoot of Sitka, AK, 3 sons, Brian (Julie) Pauling of San Antonio, TX, Michael Pauling of Waterloo, IA, and Bradley Pauling of Oelwein, IA.

Grandchildren, Stephanie (Bobby) Aikins, Alex (Victoria) Himschoot, Elizabeth Himschoot, John A. (Kerrie) Howe, Brianna (Timmy Folkers) Pauling, Thomas Pauling, Nikole (Mark) Enyart, Jacob (Krista Ellis) Pauling, Baileigh (Cody) Brickman, Erik Pauling, Ema Pauling, Edyn Pauling, and Kylee Pauling. Great Grandchildren Emma Aikins, Waylon and Weston Enyart, Brayden and Reagan Pauling, Alden Pauling and Crew Brickman

Preceded in death by his wife of 54 years Bonnie, his parents, Henry and Edna Pauling, a sister Melda Reints, brothers Alvin, Eldred, Laurence, and Lyle and his recent companion Sharon Haack.

Will have Celebration of Life to be announced at a later date.