Rev. Dr. Barton Wilson DeMerchant, of Bloomfield Township, an Episcopal priest who had been attending Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Oak Park for several years, died Dec. 3 in Waterford Township. He was 75.

Born Royal Oak, April 23, 1935; he was a graduate of Shrine High School, and went on to the University of Notre Dame, and to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Detroit.

He earned both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in theology from Marquette University in Milwaukee; a master of sacred theology from Nashotah House Seminary in Wis.; and a Doctor of Ministry from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Before becoming an Episcopal priest, he taught Latin, English and music at Catholic high schools, including St. Louis, Clinton Township; St. Alphonsus, Dearborn; St. Mary of Redford, Detroit; and St. Mary and Shrine in Royal Oak. He was also organist and choir director at St. Alexander Parish, Farmington Hills.

Ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in 1974, he served as pastor of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Southfield. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1983, and later served as chaplain to St. Luke’s Home for the Aged in Highland Park and Canterbury on the Lake in Waterford Township.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Moffat DeMerchant; a son, Paul Barton DeMerchant of Kansas City, Mo.; stepsons, Robert (Susan) Tomsett, Jr. of Madison Heights and Duncan (Wendy) Tomsett of Dearborn Heights; five grandchildren; a brother, David DeMerchant of Traverse City; a sister, Jean K. Warren of Peoria, Ariz., and several nieces, nephews and cousins, and his former wife, Joan Roytek DeMerchant of Kansas City, Mo.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 11 by Fr. Paul Chateau at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Oak Park.