Gary B. Wilhelm, Md
I knew Earl when we both were students at Crestview High School just outside of New Waterford, Ohio. He was about 3 years older than me and an excellent athlete.
We often sat together on the school bus from New Waterford village to Crestview High School. Crestview was approximately 3 miles west of the village in what had been agricultural fields. Earl always treated me as a friend despite our age gap (which was significant for the time and place). He was a gentleman.
I last saw him in the summer of 1965 at a dance at the village Fish & Game Club. He recommended that I ask Wayne Rupert for a summer job as he had worked for Mr. Rupert the preceding summer.
The last thing I remember him telling me was that he was joining the US Navy to attend Flight School. I never saw him again.
Today (10/09/2023) was the first I knew he had passed away. Earl was an athletic, intelligent and courteous young man. I am not surprised that he was successful as a Naval Aviator.