Arthur Craig Earl

Art was born on March 15, 1935 to Norman and Mary Earl of Highland Mills, NY. He met his wife, Trudy, while delivering milk to her family’s summer home in Highland Mills while he worked for a local farm during high school. After high school, he enlisted in the Air Force where he proudly served his country during the Korean War from 1952 to 1956. Following his service, he attended Westchester Community College where he earned an Associate Degree in Electronics. Art and Trudy married in 1958. With a degree in hand, and Trudy by his side, he embarked on a very rewarding 40-year career as an elevator technician in New York, Richmond, Norfolk and Dayton. Following his retirement, he continued to follow his lifelong passion to drive by serving as a school bus driver for the Hilliard City Schools, a tour bus driver for Greenlawn Bus and a delivery driver for the Millcreek Gardens in Ostrander OH.

Art was preceded in death by both of his parents. He is survived by his wife Trudy, son Greg (Jen), grandsons Adam (Sarah), Jeff (Bindi), Jake, Lukas Cameron, Ethan (Livvy) Cameron and Trevor, as well as his cherished grandchildren, Ben, Emma and Colby. He is also survived by his brother Robert (Deb) and sister Linda Austin as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Art will be remembered for his love of camping, motorcycle riding, snow skiing, woodworking and bowling. Art and Trudy enjoyed traveling the country in their motorhomes, touring Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and most of the US. They developed great friendships through their Holiday Rambler motorhome club and the various Florida campgrounds where they spent several months each winter in the Sarasota area. During their winters at the Tropical Gardens RV Park in Bradenton, Art was introduced to the art of making wood pens and bowls on a lathe. He enjoyed making pens for family and friends or anyone that earned his appreciation. He especially enjoyed sharing his pen making skill with grandson Jake. When they finally “parked” their motorhome, Art and Trudy settled for their winters in the Golf Lakes Community of Bradenton, FL. At Golf Lakes, Art served on the Safety committee and participated with Trudy through the years in the lawn bowling leagues and many other activities. Art was a regular at the Liars Club in Golf Lakes where he would enjoy one Yuengling beer each afternoon with his friends as they discussed the day’s news and activities. Trudy thoroughly enjoyed being the passenger on Art’s Honda Goldwing motorcycle as they travelled on their own and with their Goldwing Club for many years. He eventually turned in his Goldwing for a smaller Honda Rebel on which he enjoyed exploring the local area right up to last year. Art and Greg also shared a very close bond through motorcycle trail riding with family and friends during Greg’s high school and early college years. They participated together in Enduros and Observed Trial events around New York and New Jersey and spent many hours together fixing and modifying their “dirt bikes”. Skiing was a family affair that started in the early 1970’s in Sterling Forest NY and took them through the years to Colorado, Utah, New York and Vermont with family and friends. Art and Trudy thoroughly enjoyed watching the activities of each of their grandchildren. Through the years they proudly watched Adam play soccer and volleyball, Jeff and Jake perform in the high school marching and jazz bands and Lukas and Ethan play baseball, football and soccer. When the youngest, Trevor, came along their schedule was such that they rarely missed a practice or game of soccer, baseball and football from rec league through high school. Their commitment to their grandkids was legendary in the parent community. Art, Trudy and Greg had many adventures together, but their favorite was a six-night white water rafting down the Colorado River in the late 1970’s. Art always wanted to share that experience with his grandsons but, sadly, that never came to pass. A lesson to all that read this, do what it takes to make these memories happen as none of us are promised another day and before you know it, the opportunity vanishes. Finally, Art was a 45 year member of the Free and Accepted Masons, most recently associated with the Hiram Lodge No. 18 in Delaware, Ohio.

Art’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 9th at 2pm at the Schoedinger Funeral Home in Dublin, Ohio. Visitation and a celebration of life will take place from 3-5pm. Refreshments will be served.

Art will be laid to rest in the Cemetery of the Highlands in Highland Mills, New York on the morning of September 30th. At his request, he will be placed in his burial plot such that he can see the cars and trucks passing by on State Route 32.

In Lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Ohio State Fund for Wexner Medical Center which the link is listed below.

https://www.giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/details/313504?Source_Code=MED_MEDCTR-0-WaystoGive-ON-S