Earl Wade Hartenstine Sr.

Earl Wade Hartenstine, Sr, died Thursday, June 16, 2011, at Elmcroft of Little Avenue Assisted Living in Charlotte, NC at age 94, following a brief illness after declining health.

He is preceded in death by his beloved partner in life of 55 years, Dorothy Ledrich Hartenstine. He leaves behind his sisters Gladys Clarius of Nazareth, PA, Dorothy DeVatt of Saylorsburg, PA, Agnes Sutton, Jean Morber, Iva Kilpatrick, and Helen Casterlin, all of Easton, Pennsylvania, and his six children, Susan Bou of Inverness, Florida, Harry Roy of Green Lane, Pennsylvania, Earl Wade Jr. of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Deborah Wlaz of Sanibel, Florida, Ellen O’Dell of Spring Hill, Florida and Barbara Ann Hartenstine of Mint Hill, NC.

He also leaves behind 9 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Seattle, Washington, and Hawaii.

He was born on November 7, 1916, and raised in Easton, Pennsylvania, the son of Roy and Bertha (Roberts) Hartenstine. He was the third oldest of thirteen children, three brothers and nine sisters. Earl left home at an early age and joined the Navy in 1934. He is a World War II veteran. He served aboard the USS F.D. Roosevelt (CVA 42), the USS New Orleans, USS Albany, USS Alaska and other Navy ships. After 20 years in the Navy, Earl left the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer. His personal and family sacrifice was great during World War II. His younger brother Roy died when his ship was torpedoed in the Pacific, and his older brother Harry, gave his life in Belgium as a member of the US Army 3rd Armored Division. Following his time in the Navy, Earl worked for the U.S. Air Force as a civilian plumber for 20 years before retiring.

Earl loved to travel in his pop-up camper with Dorothy and Barbara, visiting camp sites and family members all around the country. After his wife’s death in 2000, Earl was the caregiver for nine years of his very special daughter, Barbara Ann.

Earl lived at Elmcroft for almost two years where he made many friends and was lovingly cared for by the wonderful staff. He was also provided comfort in his last days by Hospice of Charlotte.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Earl can be made to RHA Howell- Shelburne . RHA Howell is a 501(c)(3), non-profit in North Carolina dedicated to providing care for people with special needs. The address for RHA Howell is 3738 Howell Day Care Rd, La Grange, NC 28551. For more information visit www.rhahowell.org.

A celebration of Earl’s life will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2011, at 1 PM at McEwen Funeral Service Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Rd., Charlotte, North Carolina. His final resting place will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia at a later date. Online condolences can be made at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.