Clyde R. "Dupie" Merchant

In Loving Memory
of
Clyde Randolph Merchant

Sunrise            Sunset
November 9, 1949      October 27, 2018


Clyde Randolph Merchant affectionately known as “Dupie” to his family departed this earthly life on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem, VA.

Clyde grew up in Botetourt County and later moved to Roanoke. He moved to Vinton, VA for many years and returned to Roanoke after his companion of 25 years, Louise passed. Clyde was a talker and never met a stranger. He would strike up a conversation with anybody. Although his health was failing, he didn’t let anything keep him down. As soon as he got back on his feet he was out and about, catching the bus downtown, with his walker in tow. Whenever you saw Clyde he was dressed from head to toe, he loved fashion, shoes and jewelry and he never left home without them.

Clyde was preceded in death by his parents, Randolph and Viola Merchant, his sister Gloria Merchant Rudd and his long-life companion, Louise Hector.

Those left to cherish Clyde’s memory are his brothers, Lionel (Diane) Merchant, Silver Springs, MD and Tim (Vivian) Merchant, Crozet, VA. His sisters, Janie (Frank) Johnson, Roanoke, VA, Ruby (Harold) Gaskins, Woodbridge, VA and Constance V. Hinton, Roanoke, VA and Tyrone Hector, Roanoke, VA who was like a son to Clyde (Louise’s son). Aunts, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Roanoke, VA, Georgia Thompson, Fincastle, VA, Frances Merchant, Roanoke, VA, Anna Merchant, Troutville, VA and Georgianna Martin, Fincastle, VA and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m Free.
I’m following the path God has chosen for me.
I took His hand when I heard Him call;
I turned by back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I’ve found now peace at the end of the day…


The Merchant family would like to thank everyone for their many
acts of kindness shown to our brother during his illness.
It is our prayer that God will richly bless each of you.

Lovingly,
Lionel, Tim, Janie,
Ruby & Verlina

A home going service will be 1:00 pm Wednesday, October 31 at Rader Funeral Home, 630 Roanoke Road, Daleville with Pastor David Halsey officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service beginning at 12:00 noon.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clyde R. "Dupie" Merchant, please visit our floral store.