Merrall T. Hildreth Of Sagaponack Dies July 5

Merrall T. Hildreth of Sagaponack died July 5 at his home. He was 96.

Mr. Hildreth was born on April 5, 1924, and was an 11th generation Hildreth, descended from one of two brothers who settled on Long Island in 1635.

Mr. Hildreth was a life-long resident of Sagaponack, and a long-standing member of the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, serving in different capacities.

He attended the Sagaponack School through the eighth grade, and graduated from Bridgehampton High School in 1942.

Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country for four years during World War II as an Aviation Machinist Mate (AMM) on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater, from 1942 to 1946. He was honorably discharged as an Aviation Machinist Mate First Class (AMM 1C) and was awarded a Silver Star, four Bronze Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, the Navy’s third-highest individual award.

After the service, he returned to Sagaponack to work with his father Wallace Leland Hildreth in the family business, Hildreth & Company General Store, replacing his Uncle Thomas Hildreth, who retired. He also served in the Sagaponack post office as assistant postmaster (his father being postmaster) until 1970, when he served as postmaster until his retirement in 1986.

Earnest C. Loper owned and operated the store and was postmaster from 1857 to 1893, when Charles A. Hildreth and Thomas Hildreth bought and ran it.

In 2001, Mr. Hildreth sold the building housing the store and post office to his nephew, Richard Thayer, keeping ownership within the family.

Mr. Hildreth was an artist/creator in his own way, particularly in wood, though he painted in his early years.

He was an avid boatman and built his own boats, ice boats, sunfish, a 20-foot cabin boat with outboard motor where the family spent most weekends on the water in Long Island Sound.

Mr. Hildreth designed, built, and furnished many doll houses, as well as replicas of the Hildreth & Company General Store, Sagg School, and the original Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church that was located on Bridge Lane. He also carved many animals and figures in wood. He was meticulous in his work and had the patience of a saint, according to his family.

After selling the store in 2001, he created a museum of sorts in his barn with family heirlooms, antiques from the general store and assorted items he acquired over the years.

He loved bowling, his family said, and for years was a member of a bowling team, frequently throwing strikes. After retirement, he took up golfing and on a trip to Florida got a hole-in-one at a course he was playing for the first time. He was a natural athlete (and joker) and commented about the hole-in-one, “Well, isn’t that what you are supposed to do?” his family recalled.

Mr. Hildreth was always helping someone — creating things in wood for anyone who asked, or repairing things, particularly for the elderly, his family said. When he delivered groceries to customers, he would often return with a chair or clock that needed some attention, which he repaired for free and returned with the next grocery delivery. He was a member of the Sagaponack Cemetery Association, doing his share of maintaining the grounds and the daily raising and lowering of the American flag.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Lewis Hildreth; his daughter, Deborah Hildreth Phelps; three grandchildren, Bree Moss, Eric Moss, Eleanor Phelps (Sister Quang Son); two great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Moss and Rowan Moss; his son-in-law, John Moss; and sister Mary Louise (Mimi) Hildreth Leonard.

He was predeceased by a daughter, Donna Hildreth Moss; both his parents, Wallace Leland Hildreth and Elizabeth Vail Hildreth; four siblings Ruth Hildreth Wiggins, Wilbur (Will) Leland Hildreth, Elizabeth (Betty) Hildreth Thayer, and Charles Edward “Ed” Hildreth.

Memorial donations to the Sagaponack Cemetery Association, Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church or East End Hospice would be appreciated by the family.