EDMESTON – Earl W. Hickling, 87, of Edmeston went home to the Lord on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006.
He was born on Oct. 28, 1918 in Edmeston, the only child of Walter J. and Nellie (Ward) Hickling. He married Pearl Decker in 1942, she predeceased him in 1964. Earl then married Grace VanPelt in 1964; she also predeceased Earl in 1991. In 1991 he married Barbara Garrigan, who passed away in 2001.
Earl was a devoted family man; always with a smile, a twinkle in his eye, and a warm hug. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church in Edmeston, and the Wharton Valley Grange. Earl retired as a chemical operator from Norwich Eaton Pharmaceutical. He had love of nature, and a fondness for animals great and small.
His children Robert and Freda Hickling, James and Christine Hickling, Shirley and Robert Danaher, and Marilyn and Matthew Gagne; 12 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren survive Earl.
Besides his wives, his son John Hickling also predeceased Earl in 1963.
Funeral services wil be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home. Calling hours are Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Contributions may be made in Earl’s memory to the Edmeston Fire Department.
Arrangements by Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home, Edmeston.
Condolences may also be sent to the family via the funeral home website at hjtfuneralhome.com.