Merrill Bancroft

Merrill Bancroft, age 85, of Townsend, MA, passed away at his home on March 18, 2025. Merrill was pre-deceased by his wife of 51 years, Rita Gould Bancroft, formerly of Cummington, MA. Merrill was born in Chesterfield, MA on September 23, 1939, son of Marion (Read) and Robert Hayes Bancroft. He leaves a brother, Douglas Bancroft and his wife Joanne, of Leeds, MA, and was pre-deceased by his brother Russell Bancroft of Ware, MA. 

Merrill graduated with honors from Smith Vocational High School, Northampton, MA in 1957 and later attended Holyoke Community College. He earned an associate’s degree in electrical engineering from Lowell Technical Institute. Merrill entered the Navy at the age of 17, training at the Electronics Technician School in Great Lakes, IIL. later serving on the aircraft carriers USS Leyte and the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, attaining the rating of Electronics Technician Second Class. He was employed at Kolmorgan Corporation in Northampton, MA for several years. For 33 years, he was employed as a Customer Service Technician with Grason-Stadler Company, a leader in the design and manufacturing of hearing diagnostic instrumentation, in W. Concord, MA and later in Milford, NH, from 1968-2001. He also operated “The Electronic Shop” in Chesterfield, MA for several years. 

Merrill loved the Lord. He served as Deacon at the West Townsend Baptist Church for a number of years and most recently attended Christ Church Townsend for the past 2 years. He enjoyed many interests and hobbies, restoring player pianos, antique cars, reading history books, collecting postmarks and artifacts related to antique automobiles and antique radio equipment. A member of the Antique Wireless Association, Merrill began collecting radios and artifacts from the early 1920’s at the age of 12, later exhibiting his extensive collection of nearly 1000 items in a museum. He participated in and won many competitions concerning radio history at antique radio meets in MA, NY, Michigan, North Carolina, and other places throughout the years. This included receiving the highly coveted Houck award for historical wireless preservation. 

There will be a Celebration of Life Service at Pepperell Christian Fellowship, 17 Main Street, Pepperell, MA on Saturday, April 12, at 10 AM. He will be buried in Chesterfield, MA. Memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA. The McGaffigan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.