Earl "Whitey" Wimer

On the evening of December 17, 2015, Earl passed away at St. Anthony’s West Hospital in Lakewood, Co as a result of a heart attack suffered after surgery for a broken hip. He was 89 years old.

Earl was born in Churchville, Virginia, on March 7, 1926. He was the seventh child, and a twin, of Effie Florance (Sponaugle) and Alford Glenn Wimer. He had three brothers and six sisters.

Earl enlisted in the U. S. Navy on March 4, 1944, to defend his country during WWII. He followed his 3 brothers into the service of their country. Earl served aboard the U. S. S. Baltimore, in the Pacific Theater, as Seaman Second Class, until the end of the war. He liked to recall how he was setting on the fantail of the ship, when it was announced the war had ended, watching the planes flying overhead and the guns firing off the ship.

Earl was honorably discharged on May 26, 1946, on the West Coast. He then took an adventurous train ride across the country back home to Virginia.

Shortly after his return home from the war, Earl began driving tractor and trailer rigs for Smith’s Trucking, out of Staunton, Virginia. In 1950 he met his first love, Carrie May Taylor. They were married on December 26, 1950. They had two sons, Robert Earl and William Boyd Wimer.

Earl then took a job with the U.S. Bureau of Mines and became a core drill operator. It is believed that it was during this time, he received his nickname Whitey, due to his white-blonde hair. In the late 50’s and early 60’s, the family traveled up and down the east coast, to where Earl was working. There were also shorter stints he did out of town when the family kept the home fires for his return. Most of the early sixties they lived in Laurel, Maryland.

In 1965 his home office, in College Park, Maryland, on the campus of the University of Maryland, was closed. Earl had his choice of transferring to Minneapolis, Minnesota or the Federal Center in Lakewood, Colorado. He wisely chose Lakewood. He has lived in the same house for 50 years.

On December 23, 1979, Earl and Carrie were going to dinner with some friends, when Carrie slipped on some ice and hit her head. They all thought it was a minor incident but Carrie passed away peacefully in her sleep that night.

Earl married Dorothy Pugh on October 15, 1985. In June of 1986, Earl retired from the Bureau of Mines, after over 30 years of service.

Earl and Dorothy spent several years traveling south to Texas and Arizona for the winter months, living in their fifth wheel. They also traveled to the east coast, to visit relatives.

Earl lost Dorothy in 2010, after a long decline from Alzheimer’s. Earl cared for Dorothy until family persuaded him, for his health and her wellbeing, to place Dorothy into an assisted living facility, which deals with people with memory issues.

Earl spent his time since 2010, repairing small engines for friends and neighbors. He really enjoyed this hobby. He also would keep the sidewalks of his neighbors cleared of snow in the winters. Earl was always willing to help people any way he could.

Since 2010, Earl also kept company with his new best friend, Mary White. They were great companions.

Earl was preceded in death by: his parents, Glenn and Effie, brothers: Russell Jeremiah, Raymond Paul, and Elmer Glenn; sisters: Janet Isabelle Aukcunas, Mae Virginia Slack, Verna Evelyn Roberts, Mary “Edith” Shull and his twin sister, Ellen Marie Eckard Pollard; wives Carrie May and Dorothy, niece Dawn Davis, and nephew Norwood “Junior” Roberts.

Earl is survived by: his sister Jean Elizabeth and her husband Eugene Anderson, of Staunton, Va., sons Robert (Janice), of Carson City, NV, William (Barbara) of Hemet, CA, four grandchildren, one great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.

Earl’s final wishes were to be cremated. His ashes will be interned at Fort Logan National Cemetery, in Denver, Colorado, after memorial services at Advantage Runyan Stevenson-Trevino Mortuary,

6425 West Alameda Ave., Lakewood, Co. and Fort Logan.

Another service is planned for the summer in Staunton, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in his name, to the charity of your choice, or the American Legion Post 178.