Obituary of Earl Hurd

Earl Hurd Jr, 85, passed away peacefully at Ridgeland Nursing Center on Friday, January 2, 2015 with family by his side. Mr. Hurd was born February 13, 1929 in Morristown New Jersey to Earl and Minnie (Hartman) Hurd. He grew up in Stanhope, New Jersey. After his active military service, he returned to New Jersey. He lived in Netcong before moving to Mine Hill where he lived for 29 years. He then moved to Augusta, Georgia in 1994 before moving to his daughter’s in Hampton, South Carolina in 2010. Earl’s greatest love was for his country and he taught his daughters to love the country he loved so much. He served in the Marine Corp Reserves from November 30, 1947 to March 8, 1949, the US Air Force from May 16, 1949 to September 8, 1960 and the Army National Guard from February 1, 1980 to February 13, 1989. He served during the Korean War Conflict. He had proudly served 21 years and 7 months when he retired from the military. He was involved with the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, being a past commander of the VFW. Earl worked for Thiokol Chemical Corporation’s Reaction Motors Division as a Rokiter. Earl worked on the rocket motors for the Apollo program, the Surveyor Lunar Lander Program and the X-15 aircraft. He also worked for Wyckoff Oil, Hedden Oil and Spartan Oil. Earl loved Bluegrass music and was affectionately known as the Bluegrass Bum. He was well known for his Train Whistle. He shared a love of fishing with his brother and passed that on to his grandsons. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Minnie (Hartman) Hurd. He is survived by his wife, Shirley (Barr) Hurd of Pinellas Park, Florida; four daughters – Pamela & Thomas Donahue of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, Teresa & Gary Gabor of Hampton, South Carolina, Debra & Christopher Ammon of Succasunna, New Jersey and Lucinda Wade of McHenry, Illinois; 11 grandchildren – Erin Donahue, Ryan Donahue, Jeremy Gabor, Jessica (Donald) Mattie, Jeffrey (Elisabeth) Gabor, Kyle Ammon, Kevin Ammon, Amanda (Frank) Ringham, Andrew (Robyn) Hurd, Alyssa (Reese) Muhlenbruch and Robert Wade; 4 great grandchildren – Ryan Mattie, Evan Mattie, Gabriella Hurd and Tyler Gabor; one brother, Lewis Hurd of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania; several nieces and many beloved friends.