Earl Franklin Steele went to his final rest on Oct. 25 in Springfield, Ga. He was born in Camden, N.J. on July 18, 1977.
Earl was a 1996 graduate of Medomak Valley High School where he had the distinction of earning 11 varsity letters in cross country, wrestling, and track. He was a member of the National Honor Society, the MVHS Honor Society and received the Presidential Citation at graduation. Earl attended Norwich University before deciding to enlist in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Signal Corps specializing in communications while serving with the 1st Battalion 75th Regiment Rangers during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Earl also served with the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) during his last deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Since his medical discharge, he has been employed as a tool machinist attendant at Precision Machines of Savannah.
He enjoyed being with family and friends and loved to make people laugh. His love of fishing, travelling, and music were well known to his family and friends. One of Earl’s favorite pastimes was assisting his children at their soccer and wrestling activities. He was a member of the American Legion Post 149 in Waldoboro.
Earl is survived by his mother, Bernadette Steele and the late Noah (Bud) Steele of Waldoboro; son, Brendan Steele; daughter, Shenin Steele, both of Springfield, Ga.; brother, Craig Steele and wife Dodie of Onancock, Va.; sisters, Michelle Lamontagne of Waldoboro and Jennifer Mills and husband Ben of Gainesville, Va.; extended family of Glouster, N.J.; loving nieces and nephews in Maine, Virginia, and Washington; as well as loving aunts, uncles and cousins in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to a trust fund in his children’s names, at The First, PO Box B, Waldoboro, ME 04572.
Memorial mass 11 a.m., Fri., Nov. 11 at St. Patrick’s Church, 380 Academy Hill Rd., Newcastle.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Smeltzer Family Cremation & Funeral Service, Waldoboro.