William S. Earle, Jr.

William (Bill) Slade Earle, Jr. passed away in Winter Park on Friday, November 9, 2018. He was born February 26, 1925, in Sanford, Florida to William S. Earle, Sr. and Bertha Lingley Earle.

After graduating from Sanford HS in 1943, Bill immediately joined the US Army where he was a Rifleman in the 95th Infantry Division. He was part of the invasion of Okinawa where he was wounded in combat and later awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Following the war and his rehab, Bill attended Florida Southern College, graduating in 1949 with a B.S. in Mathematics. While at college he met the love of his life, Betty, whom he married in 1949. They both then went to Florida State University where Bill earned a Masters Degree in 1950, in Guidance & Counseling in Psychology.

Bill's career spanned 4 decades, working with state & local agencies, politicians and professionals to combine and establish resources in support of Mental Health, Alcoholism and the Disabled. Under the State of Florida Department of Heath and Rehabilitative Services, Bill served as District Director - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Regional Administrator and Sub District Regional Administrator. He retired from the State of Florida in March, 1979 after 33 years. Bill then became Executive Director, Children's Home Society of Central Florida before retiring in 1989.

Bill joined the Orlando Rotary Club in 1966 and later moved to the Winter Park Breakfast Rotary Club where he served as club President and District Governor.

Bill and Betty loved to travel throughout the US and internationally, where they attended several Rotary International conferences. He had a real sense of adventure to explore new places, learn other cultures and meet new people. He especially loved nature, the outdoors, swimming and fishing. He was an avid gardener and well known as an orchid grower.

Bill was predeceased in death by his parents, wife Betty, brother David, sisters Betty, Mary and Virginia, and daughter Karen Earle Brown. Surviving are son Larry of Topsail Beach, NC, daughters Barbara Bennett of Fern Park, FL and Marsha Earle of Oviedo, FL, and son-in-law Kenny Brown of Winder GA, 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the many Health Center staff at the Mayflower Retirement Center for their dedication and compassionate care to Bill, with a special thanks to Al, Josh and Louis. The family is also appreciative of the caring work performed by the staff at Cornerstone Hospice in the past year.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Newcomer Funeral Home at 335 East State Road 434, Longwood, FL (www.NewcomerOrlando.com). There will be a family visitation at the funeral home on Wednesday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. A memorial service will be held in Duxbury Hall at the Mayflower Retirement Center at 1620 Mayflower Ct. in Winter Park on Thursday Nov 15th at 10:00 AM. A private burial will be held later that day in Sanford.

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