Harley Ellsworth Erb III

Erb III, Harley Ellsworth, age 88 passed peacefully into God's presence on Saturday, June 8th. Harley was born in Salem, VA, attended Roanoke College and graduated from the University of TN, Knoxville with a mechanical engineering degree. He was an avid lifelong Vols fan! Harley served honorably in the US Army during WW II and in the US Air Force during the Korean War as a meteorology officer. A career as a heating and air conditioning engineer preceded becoming a successful small business owner of Baskin Robbins and multiple Subways. Harley's quick wit, upbeat personality, and warmhearted, kind spirit touched all who knew him. He was a wonderful Christian son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. God blessed him with a large family who loved and adored him. His great sense of humor and ability to tell a much embellished joke...sometimes even in dialect...will be missed. His family was always a top priority in his long life. His positive attitude brought joy to those who knew him and was a model of his strong, trusting faith. Harley enjoyed years of golf, travel, and was a devoted member of St. Luke Cumberland Presbyterian church where he served as an elder and Sunday School teacher. Harley is survived by his wife, Bettye DeFoe Bowling Erb, brother, Dr. Blair D. Erb, son, Harley E. Erb, IV (Donna), daughter Jane Erb Kirkpatrick (Jim), grandchildren Jay Kirkpatrick (Katharine), Chris Erb (Meghan), Kelley Erb, Kathryn Erb Punke (Chris) and 5 great grandchildren with two on the way! Harley delighted in the gift of even more children and grandchildren when he married Bettye 19 years ago. These survivors include children Kerma Bowling Wilson (Nelson), Jayne Bowling Duncan (Tony), David Bowling, and Doug Bowling (Julie), grandchildren Matthew Wilson (Meghan), Rebekah Wilson, Benjamin Bowling (Whitney), Will Bowling, Julieanne Bowling, John Berry Bowling, Zack Duncan, Hayley Grace Duncan and one great grandson. Harley was pre deceased by his parents Louise and Harley E. Erb, Jr. and grandson John Kirkpatrick. Funeral service will be 11:00 am Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at Hermitage Funeral Home with DeWayne Tyus officiating. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Jay Kirkpatrick, Chris Erb, Kelley Erb, Matthew Wilson, Benjamin Bowling, Will Bowling, Zack Duncan and John Berry Bowling. Entombment will follow in Hermitage Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be 5:00 - 7:00 pm Monday, June 10, 2013 and 1 hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: St. Luke Cumberland Presbyterian Church 901 W. Old Hickory Blvd. Madison, TN 37115, American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, Alive Hospice 1718 Patterson St. Nashville, TN 37203