Ray Eugene Earle, 86, of Warsaw, died at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 24, 2010, in Roudabush VA Hospital, Indianapolis.
He was born Dec. 9, 1923, in Middlesboro, Ky., to Howard and Pearl Manning Earl. On Oct. 20, 1946, in Louisville, Ky., he married Frances Anderson, who died March 29, 2009.
He grew up in the Tazwell, Tenn., area and lived in the Greenville, Tenn., area as a young adult. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, serving on two different Landing Ship Tanks or Transports. His ship was in the Japanese harbor at the same time the treaty between the United States and Japan was being signed aboard the Missouri. He worked as an electrician after leaving the U.S. Navy, spending most of his working life at R.R. Donnelley & Sons, retiring in 1990 after 31 years. He was a lifetime musician who enjoyed playing in many country/bluegrass bands, writing music and operating a small recording studio and publishing company out of his home. He was the manager and publisher for a group of Bluegrass musicians named "The Barrier Brothers" along with many other local artists. He recorded the demo tape that Crystal Gayle sent to the recording studio in Nashville before she became famous.
Surviving are three daughters: Gloria (and spouse Ron) Wigent, Michigan City; Donna (and spouse Bert) Goble, Winona Lake; and Linda Lent, Atwood; a son, Wes Earle, Spartanburg, S.C.; five sisters: Annabelle (and spouse Maynard) Lambert; Mary Lou (and spouse Ed) Schroff; Barbara (and spouse Don) Drudge; Frances (and spouse Jim) Cormican; and Lucille Sorensen; two brothers, Frank (and spouse Karna) Earl and Lee (and spouse Mela) Earle; a sister-in-law, Carolyn (and spouse Robert) Bolton, Louisville, Ky.; 13 grandchildren 25 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three sisters: Edith (and spouse Elmer) Johnson; Thelma (and spouse Lloyd) Smelser; and Myrtle (and spouse Gerald) Ream; a brother, Elbert Earl; and five infant brothers.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, with Pastor David Cripe officiating. Burial will be in Palestine Cemetery, with military honors.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
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Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
