Capt. Earl Pelham, Usmc (Ret.)

Capt. Earl Wayne Pelham, USMC (Ret.), age 77, of Pensacola Beach, FL, was called home peacefully of natural causes on June 28, 2021, in Pensacola, Fl.  His wife was at his side.

He was born on February 29, 1944, in FT. Knox, KY to the late Earl and Mary Ella Smith Pelham.

Earl graduated from Castle Height Military Academy in Lebanon, TN, and Auburn University with BS in Industrial Engineering. Earl joined the United States Marine Corp. He was a Commissioned Officer who flew helicopters in Vietnam.

After six years serving in Marine Corp., he joined the Army National Guard in Montgomery, AL., where he retired in 1993 as a Major.  He also worked as an engineer at Pensacola Naval Airwork Facility and retired in 1993.  Earl was an avid tennis and golf player. He enjoyed sailing and living a happy life.

Earl is predeceased in death by his parents and nephew, David Jones.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Doris Price Pelham; stepson: Jon (Teresa) Coggins, of Ellisville, MS; three grandchildren: Bethany, CB, Melanie Coggins, of Ellisville, MS; sister, Susie Pelham McGaha, of Lacey Spring, AL; nephew: Jimmy Williams, Lacey Spring, AL; nephew: John Williams and son, Gavin, Houston, TX; sister, Elysa (Wayne) Jones, of Grant, AL; son, Ben Spurlock, of Grant, AL; daughter, Mary Jones Nabel, of Boston; great-niece, Phoebe Jones, of Huntsville, AL; step-niece, Candace Jones Plank and her son Trent Plank; and aunt, Dorothy Davis, of Slocomb, AL.

The family would like to recognize and give special thanks to Ed Southworth for his tremendous support and unfailing friendship during Wayne’s illness over the past seven years.

Services for Earl will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery, located on Pensacola NAS, Thursday, July 1, 2021, at 10:00 AM. The funeral cortege will line up at 9:15 AM, Thursday, July 1, 2021, at Olive Baptist Church – Warrington Campus, 103 W. Winthrop Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32507. The graveside service will commence at 10:00 AM at Barrancas National Cemetery (Shelter- A). Honorary Pallbearers are Ed Southworth, Paul Hayes.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Care Hospice.