Earl Marion Poynter

Earl Marion Poynter was born Feb. 2, 1924, in Arrowsmith, Illinois. He was the fourth child of five children; son of James William and Ada Valentine Ashby-Poynter. He departed this life on Monday, June 4, 2012.

It is an easy, as well as a pleasant, task to tell something of the life of a good man. Such was the life of Earl. He attended grades first through third in Bloomington, Ill. and fourth grade through graduation at Belle Union, graduating in 1942.

He united in marriage with Mabel E. Wilson on June 17, 1945 and to this union was born one child, a daughter, Pamela Lynn Poynter Tilka.

This man has been a long-respected citizen of Greencastle. Over this period he was a factory worker at Chevrolet in Indianapolis and then, later, at IBM in Greencastle. He was a laboring man who enjoyed the satisfaction that always comes to one whose work is well done.

He was a kind man to everyone and a devoted father to his family.

Earl attended church at Union Valley Baptist Church and Walnut Chapel Friends Church at Belle Union and Hanna Street Baptist Church at Greencastle.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Dora Francis Poynter, Thelma Gouch-Bennett and Dorothy Overshiner--Ault.

He leaves behind to mourn a brother, James Poynter; his second wife, Helen Baugh Poynter, whom he married on June 2, 2001; his daughter, Pamela Tilka; grandchildren Nathan and Rachel Tilka; and many nieces, nephews, stepchildren and friends.

Earl was a member of Temple Lodge #47 F&AM, Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis and Murat Shrine Temple of Indianapolis.

Visitation will be held at Bittles & Hurt Funeral Home on Friday June 8 at 11 a.m. Funeral services begin at 1 p.m. with Temple Lodge #47 and Pastor Patrick Smith officiating.

Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be sent in his name to the hospice facility, Kairos Dwelling, 2945 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048, where compassionate volunteers so lovingly cared for him.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.BittlesandHurt.com.