Earl, William 'Bill'

William “Bill” Earl, 63, died peacefully at his home under hospice care surrounded by family Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, after a courageous battle with liver cancer. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton. Cremation and private family burial will follow.

Bill was born June 12, 1950, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to William and Edna Farias Earl. His parents moved to Buena Park, Calif., where Bill graduated from Western High School. On De. 31, 1976, he married Shirley Pennington in Annaheim, Calif. Bill worked for Raytheon Corporation for 25 years as a radar technician with a Top Secret clearance, working on Navy ships. After retiring in 1991, the family moved to Iowa and he worked a variety of jobs, including airport security and delivering mail.

Bill loved asparagus hunting, camping, growing Hawaiian pepper plants, playing Cribbage and fishing with his best friends, Jason White, Jim Laughridge and Carol Berger. His greatest joy was playing with his grandchildren.

He is survived by Shirley; daughter, Sommer (Chris) Casali, and son, Charles Tucker (Sheryl Trenary) both of Vinton; daughter, Shannon (Billy) Trusty, Grayville, Ill.; son, David Tucker, Fayetteville, Ark.; his father, Bill, Buena Park, Calif.; siblings, Janet Liebrecht, Riverside, Calif., George Farias, Florida, Joe Earl, Everett, Wash., and David Earl and Tom Earl, both of Buena Park, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles; and his cat, Lucy.

He was preceded in death by his mother, and brother, John Earl.

A memorial fund has been established.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Bill and his family.

Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.

Published Dec. 7, 2013 in The Gazette