EARL SASSER
SEVEN SPRINGS --Earl Stewart Sasser, 88, Master Sergeant, USAF (retired), died in Los Alamos, New Mexico, on Wednesday, February 18, 2004, where he resided at the Sombrillo Nursing Center.
Earl was born on December 21, 1915 to Thaddeus L. and Elizabeth H. Sasser in the Indian Springs Township, Wayne County, North Carolina.
After completing his education in 1939, Earl followed the lead of his older brothers Raymond and Thad in the military service, joining the U.S. Army Air Corps. After training as a radioman, Earl was stationed in the South Pacific at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where along with his brother, Raymond, and cousin, Richard Carter, they survived the Japanese attack on December 5, 1941. Shortly thereafter, Earl joined a B-24 bombing squadron as a mid-ship gunner. Earl flew 30 missions throughout the South Pacific, primarily around New Guinea and New Zealand. His crew received the Flying Cross medal for valor in that campaign along with other commendations for his service. Earl flew another 25 missions in Europe when WWII came to an abrupt halt. In the States, Earl was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base where he supported the nuclear weapons test program at the Nevada Test Site. He retired from the Air Force in 1960 and went on to live in Albuquerque, Taos, and Questa, New Mexico, prior to moving to Everett, Washington in the mid-1960s. After a brief career with the Boeing Corporation, Earl took a position with the U.S. Postal Service as Postmaster in Mukilteo, Washington until his retirement.
Earl was a loving family man, having cared much for his parents and siblings throughout his life. He enjoyed a large circle of friends and family that he visited and kept in touch with. He was active in veteran's affairs, serving in the VFW in numerous positions. He also continued to be an active member of the Kit Carson Chapter of the Masonic Lodge in Taos, N.M., throughout his life. Earl moved to Los Alamos in 1998 to be near his nephew, Kent Sasser and family, residing at the Oppenheimer senior apartments and then at the Sombrillo Nursing Center.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents and by all of his siblings: Thad Sasser Jr., Sally Sasser Munyat, Frances Sasser Williams, Dorothy Sasser Moore, Raymond Sasser, Rachel Sasser Carter, and Wayne Adrian Sasser, and he is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and their families.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, February 23, from the Tyndall Funeral Chapel in Mount Olive with the Rev. Thomas Moore and the Rev. Johnny Moore officiating. Burial will full military honors will be in the Sasser Family Cemetery in the Daly community. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Monday one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are welcome to any local veteran's service organization to thank all those men and women who are veterans as well as those who are now serving our country.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Tyndall Funeral Home in Mount Olive.
(Written & Paid by the Family)
Published in Obituaries on February 22, 2004 9:19 AM