Obituaries

Earl Beadle

Photo of Earl Beadle
Earl Beadle, age 91, of Pine Bluff, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2016. He slipped quietly into the arms of God and joined other members of what was the Greatest Generation of Americans this country ever produced. Born Alfred Earl Beadle April 15, 1925 in Holly Grove, he lived of Pine Bluff, Arkansas most of his life. He was the son of Alvin and Cora McKenzie Beadle. He joined the US Navy in 1943 at the age of 18. He was extremely proud of his service to this country and seldom missed an opportunity to speak of his ships, the Monongahela, which was barely missed by two kamikaze strikes at Okinawa and the destroyer Brinkley Bass. He participated in many of the large naval actions in the Pacific. After his naval service, Earl worked for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad as a switchman and even spent a few years as a rodeo rider, retiring as a Journeyman Pipefitter in the early 80's. Earl was a tough and independent man who lived life pretty much on his own terms. He lost his wife in 1980, never remarried and lived independently until this spring. He loved telling jokes and always laughed when he told younger people, "If I know I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself." He could recite the entire line of US presidents from Washington to Obama, and he proudly displayed the American flag inside and outside his apartment. He made sure he was registered to vote absentee and was planning to cast his vote in the November elections. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Gilbert Beadle; mother and father; and sister, Rovella Wittig. Earl leaves behind to honor his life and memory several cousins, including Keith Beadles and his caregiver, love of his life and close friend of 10 years, Mariell Autry. Mariell wishes to thank Ron, Drew and William Fuller of Right at Home Little Rock for their assistance. A celebration of Earl's life will be held 2 p.m. Friday in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson and Son, 807 Cherry Street, Pine Bluff. The interment will be private. Memorials may be made to Gentiva Hospice, 10800 Financial Centre Parkway, Suite 380, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published July 14, 2016

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