743rd Railway Operating Battalion - Stevens

Earl G Stevens, 95, of Girard, died on Monday, February 8, 2021 at Lecom Senior Living Center. 

Earl was born on May 4, 1925, a son to the late Francis C. and Lillian D. (Bitilian) Stevens. He attended Albion High School and in his senior year was inducted into the United States Army on July 14, 1943. He was deployed with the 743rd Railway Operations Battalion as a car mechanic, earning the rank of Corporal. Earl was awarded the American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. 

He was involved in the Central Europe Campaign as well as the Rhine Land Campaign. Earl served in foreign service for one year, six months and seven days. Upon his honorable discharge in September of 1944 Earl returned home to Cranesville. Earl was a carpenter by trade and worked at George Burns Saw Mill in Albion. He then worked with Craft Lumber until his retirement in 2014 at the age of 87. He built his own boat from wood, which he used to sail in Lake Erie. 

Earl was a patient man, a man of few words. He was also known as a hard worker. Earl earned an electronics diploma, with the knowledge he learned there, he built TV's as a hobby. He often fixed neighbors and family's TV's. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, enjoying time well spent with his brothers and brothers in-law. 

Earl enjoyed bowling and was a member of the Girard American Legion Post #494 and the Edinboro McKean VFW Post 740. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Myra I. Smith, Gladys J. Johnston and Alice M. Bricker; three brothers, Harold J. Stevens, Clifford "Sonny" Stevens and Francis "Chet" W. Stevens. He will be greatly missed by his family which include a niece, Susette Vanaskey; two sisters, Norma Bille and Mildred Ogren; two sister in-laws, Evelyn Stevens and Shirley Nelson; and his best friend, Gene Herhold; as well as many nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to A. F. Dobler Hose & Ladder Company, 37 Walnut St, Girard, PA 16417. A service will be held this spring. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Edder Funeral Home Inc. Girard To send condolences please visit edderfuneralhome.com.