Merton Muller Jarboe

Merton Muller Jarboe of Sherwood, MD passed away peacefully with family by his side on September 12, 2025 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. He was 87. Merton (Mert) was the beloved husband of 42 years to Maggie Jarboe, together they built a life full of love and family. This legacy lives on through Mert’s 2 children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mert was born in Easton, MD on April 28, 1938, to the late Gertrude (Muller) Jarboe and Harvey J. Jarboe. Mert was raised in Sherwood, MD, attended Tilghman Elementary School and graduated from St. Michaels High School in 1956. He attended The University of Maryland where he received a degree in Industrial Engineering. Upon Graduation he went into sales with the Otis Elevator Company and stayed with the company for 39 years, moving up from sales to district manager. During his time with Otis he moved from Philadelphia, PA to Allentown, PA, Richmond, VA, Pittsburgh, PA and ended up working in New York City, residing in Wilton, CT before retiring. Mert was always up for a good time and loved organizing tennis events with crazy names and awards. Mert and Maggie enjoyed many weekends boating on their Sea-Ray boat named Magic on the Connecticut River and later, on their Chaparral named Persistence on Harris Creek. He enjoyed taking his grandchildren tubing in his boat. After retiring, Mert and Maggie moved back to Talbot County and in 2000, renovated the home he grew up in. Once in Sherwood he quickly got involved in running the Christmas Parade in St. Michaels, which he did for ten years. He helped with the engineering of the Bay Hundred Pool in St. Michaels, got involved with the Rotary Club and helped organize the Sherwood Fourth of July parade. He joined the Rotary Yacht Squadron where he enjoyed a stint as Commodore and became known as the one responsible for telling jokes. Mert, (PopPop) encouraged his grandchildren in learning to waterski, snow ski, kayak, and be expert crabbers. He encouraged his great grandkids to learn to sail, even providing sailing lessons. Coming to the “Farm” for various holidays with their dogs was a highlight for all of the grandchildren. Mert made everyone feel comfortable and welcome. Mert and Maggie were world travelers, exploring Japan, Kenya, Panama, Machu Pichu, France, Germany, the Baltics and Mexico to name a few. In addition to his wife Maggie, he is survived by his 2 daughters Kathryn Smedley (Larry) and Karen Rodenheiser (Glenn); his sister Nancy Ruel; 4 grandchildren; Joshua, Kyle, Shannon and Tyler; 3 step grandchildren; Chris, Jennifer, Kendra and 10 great grandchildren; Jackson, Allie, Finnley, Colin, Maxwell, Mason, Leo, Caroline, Greyson and Rose. He was predeceased by his son Merton M. Jarboe Jr. and his ex-wife Ann Gardner Stevens. Relatives and friends are invited to the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday September 20th at the Sherwood U M Church on Sherwood Landing Rd, Sherwood, MD. Following the service everyone is invited back to the family home. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mert’s memory may be sent to The Sherwood Cemetery, P.O. Box 58, Sherwood, MD 21665 or to the Tilghman Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 297, Tilghman, MD 21671.

Merton Muller Jarboe

April 28, 1938 - September 12, 2025