Larry N. Merkle, M.D., 78, died April 6, 2018, in Moravian Hall Square, Nazareth, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

Raised in Slatington by his parents, the late Claude and Lillian (Rauch) Merkle, he lived in Nazareth with his wife of 38 years, Brenda (Reinert) Merkle.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he received his medical degree from Heidelberg University, Germany.

He was a major in the U.S. Army, from 1968-70, during the Vietnam War, and received several honors and awards, including the National Defense Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

He practiced medicine in Allentown from 1974-2011, serving as chief of endocrinology and metabolism at Lehigh Valley Hospital for much of that time.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children Denise Turoscy and her husband, Stephen, and Claudia, Larry, Jonathan and Julie; grandson Steve Turoscy; and great-grandson Greyson.

The family asks donations be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 835 Third St., Whitehall, PA 18052 or to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 200, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 or at curealzfund.org.

Indicate the gift is in memory of Larry Merkle.

Arrangements made by Gilbert Funeral Home Inc., Whitehall.