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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Jul '95
Earl Frederick Markle No. 15899 Class of 1946
Died 23 December 1992 in Sun City Center, Florida, aged 69 years.
Interment: Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.
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BORN 25 APRIL 1923 in Terre Haute, Indiana, Earl
was 18 months old when his mother died and he was placed in the
Rose Home Orphanage. He lived there until adopted by Frank and
Vera Markle when he was 18. He attended school in Teffe Haute
and one of his classmates from junior high through one year at
Indiana State University was Roena Roe Wegrich, later to become
his wife.
Cadet life presented few problems for Earl. Joe
Park remembered Earl as a stalwart, sweet, placid guy with a
lot of drive and a lust for life. At graduation, Earl became
an Infantry second lieutenant and married Roena in Terre Haute.
After basic schooling at Fort Benning, Georgia,
Earl went to the 24th Infantry in Japan. Classmate Corbin Davis
recalled: "Earl impressed me from the first time we met.
A good listener and observer of people; he was a mature officer
even as a second lieutenant. His abilities gained your respect
and the desire to be his friend." In 1949, the Markles returned
to the Ground General School, Fort Riley, Kansas. In 1952, Earl
served with the 279th Infantry, 45th Division in the Korean War.
He returned to become an instructor at the Infantry School, Fort
Benning. In 1955, Earl decided to leave the Army to try his hand
at civilian life.
He joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation and
spent 31 years with the firm. An associate, Frank Gilmore, recalled:
"It was at Westinghouse Electric's Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory,
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania that Earl was first employed as staff
assistant for a major project manager and subsequently as a buyer.
Five years after joining Bettis, he moved on to the Publications
Department as a senior engineering writer. Earl's quality work
gained him many accolades."
The Markles moved to Florida in 1986. For five
years before his death, Earl could do nothing for himself. He
died 23 December 1992. He is survived by his wife Roe; daughter,
Debbie; three sons, Doug, Steve and Jim, and five grandchildren.
His associates in Pittsburgh and Florida fondly
recall Earl Markle. William Sanders said, "Earl was one
helluva nice guy, a credit to West Point."
Bob Harding remembered, "The first thing that
comes to mind when thinking of Earl is honesty, integrity, family,
sense of humor, intelligence and a good neighbor."
Bob Bootay recalled, "Earl was a good friend.
Ready to help when needed and with a ready smile when doing it."
Dick Pitzer recalled, "Earl was an exemplary
family man; husband, father, provider. He possessed the highest
standards of ethics, principles and morals. He was my best friend."
Torg Torgerson said, "From Beast Barracks,
Earl was hardworking and unflappable. His loving good nature
showed through in his family and sustained him well through his
long illness. I cannot recall a single friend more liked and
respected than Earl."
At Earl's funeral, his children each delivered
a eulogy.
Debbie: "Dad was a disciplined man with unconditional
love for his family. He was a soft, sensitive, gentle man, with
a big heart, a warm heart and that was the quality that touched
his friends. "
Steve: "Dad was a 'no-nonsense' kind of guy.
But we knew his bark was worse than his bite. When it came to
us kids, Mom knew what a pushover he was, leaving her to deal
out most of the discipline. Rarely seeing eye to eye with him
while growing up, I came to respect his values and his opinions
as I matured. There was never a single day I wasn't proud and
honored to be my father's son."
Doug: "Dad made sure we always felt secure
at home. He let us know that nothing came easily, but if we tried
hard, something good would come from our efforts. Dad was a quiet
romantic, and the most important thing he ever did for us was
to love our Mom.
Jim: "My father was a compassionate man, of
good humor and dedicated to raising his family."
To these words from his friends and family, the
Class of 1946 is proud to add: "Well Done, Earl; Be Thou
at Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his wife, Roe
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