Robert Horace Earle
February 21, 1921 — November 6, 2015
Robert Horace Earle
Robert Horace Earle passed away on November 6, 2015 at the Thompson House where he had been a resident since 2012. He was 94. Born in Plainfield, NJ on February 21, 1921; the son of Horace and Mary (Rushmore) Earle.
Rob was educated at the Pingry and Loomis Schools. He was a graduate of Williams College in 1945. This was the class known as the "class that went to war" as all enlisted to serve their country after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Rob served his country as Master Sergeant of artillery in the 35th division of Patton's Army. Attacked on 35 of the 45 days in action, they were recognized as playing a "brilliant and effective role in the liberation of France". In later years as he spoke more of the war, he liked to tell of discovering a German soldier hiding in a farmer's home in Belgium. The soldier was "just a young lad". Rob and his fellow soldiers brought him outside, gave him chocolate and a cigarette, and let him warm up on the hood of the jeep. This memory was clearly treasured by him as his division was also first to come upon one of Hitler's concentration camps.
Returning home to West Dover after the War, he was employed by American Optical as an industrial engineer. On November 26th, 1951 he married Gladys Raithel who predeceased him in July 2015.
Rob had a wide variety of interests. An accomplished fly fisherman, he loved his trips to Canada and was a member of the Wantastiquet Trout Club in Weston, VT for many years. He was a voracious reader with an ever curious and fun mind. He was known as a really fun grandad who hoisted a grandson up the flagpole for a bird's eye view of the neighborhood, set off the old cannon in the driveway and lit the kitchen on fire while mixing chemicals; all to the delight of his grandchildren and dismay of his wife. His life and legacy was one of deep integrity, contentment and appreciation for a simple life.
Rob loved his caregivers and all staff at the Thompson House who showed unending and outstanding compassion, sensitivity, and love. We, the family of Rob, will be forever grateful.
He is survived by a daughter, Jan Brown and her husband Todd of Dummerston, daughter Sue Coleman of Hinsdale; a granddaughter, Chelsea Kuhn and her husband Blake of Columbus, OH; grandson, Taber Brown, his wife Lexie and great granddaughter Leighton of Seneca, SC; grandson, Rob Brown of Dummerston; grandsons, Wade and Riley Coleman of Hinsdale; granddaughter, Taylor Coleman of Hinsdale and dear family friends, Bruce and Bridget Gardner of Guilford, Nancy Leavy of Hopkinton, NH and Kayla Matuszewski of Hinsdale.
There will be no calling hours. A celebration of the lives of Rob and Gladys will be held at a later date. Any donations in Rob's memory will be used in his honor for a new outdoor resident's bench at the Thompson House, P.O. Box 1117, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
Rob was educated at the Pingry and Loomis Schools. He was a graduate of Williams College in 1945. This was the class known as the "class that went to war" as all enlisted to serve their country after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Rob served his country as Master Sergeant of artillery in the 35th division of Patton's Army. Attacked on 35 of the 45 days in action, they were recognized as playing a "brilliant and effective role in the liberation of France". In later years as he spoke more of the war, he liked to tell of discovering a German soldier hiding in a farmer's home in Belgium. The soldier was "just a young lad". Rob and his fellow soldiers brought him outside, gave him chocolate and a cigarette, and let him warm up on the hood of the jeep. This memory was clearly treasured by him as his division was also first to come upon one of Hitler's concentration camps.
Returning home to West Dover after the War, he was employed by American Optical as an industrial engineer. On November 26th, 1951 he married Gladys Raithel who predeceased him in July 2015.
Rob had a wide variety of interests. An accomplished fly fisherman, he loved his trips to Canada and was a member of the Wantastiquet Trout Club in Weston, VT for many years. He was a voracious reader with an ever curious and fun mind. He was known as a really fun grandad who hoisted a grandson up the flagpole for a bird's eye view of the neighborhood, set off the old cannon in the driveway and lit the kitchen on fire while mixing chemicals; all to the delight of his grandchildren and dismay of his wife. His life and legacy was one of deep integrity, contentment and appreciation for a simple life.
Rob loved his caregivers and all staff at the Thompson House who showed unending and outstanding compassion, sensitivity, and love. We, the family of Rob, will be forever grateful.
He is survived by a daughter, Jan Brown and her husband Todd of Dummerston, daughter Sue Coleman of Hinsdale; a granddaughter, Chelsea Kuhn and her husband Blake of Columbus, OH; grandson, Taber Brown, his wife Lexie and great granddaughter Leighton of Seneca, SC; grandson, Rob Brown of Dummerston; grandsons, Wade and Riley Coleman of Hinsdale; granddaughter, Taylor Coleman of Hinsdale and dear family friends, Bruce and Bridget Gardner of Guilford, Nancy Leavy of Hopkinton, NH and Kayla Matuszewski of Hinsdale.
There will be no calling hours. A celebration of the lives of Rob and Gladys will be held at a later date. Any donations in Rob's memory will be used in his honor for a new outdoor resident's bench at the Thompson House, P.O. Box 1117, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Horace Earle, please visit our flower store.
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