In Honor of Earl Pingleton
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Submitted by Rose Carter
greeneyes2u99@yahoo.com
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IN HONOR OF EARL PINGLETON
                                  

Earl W. Pingleton, born August 15,1923, at Poteau, Oklahoma,the son of 
Cade and Myrtle Pingleton lived in Oklahoma all his life.  He moved to 
Okay in 1939 as a teenager.  He served his country in World War II.  
He was in the Pacific Theater, Medical Corp and served on the Hospital 
Ship USS Comfort.  He married Maxine Roberts April 27,1944.  He worked 
for the railroad for 35 years, working his way up from car man to engineer
for Missouri Pacific and later for Union Pacific. His hobbies were rasing 
cattle, gardening, fishing and camping out with his grandchildren.

Earl retired form the railroad in 1984 with 35 years of service. After 
retriement and selling his cattle he began to do volunteer work at the 
Three Rivers Cemetery.  In 1988 he was elected Secretary-treasurer. He 
began to make improvements with the clearing fo the land that had been 
boought in 1977. This was accomplished with the help of Leroy Reynolds 
Jr. and County Commissioner Larry Hall. Next, he had the fence installed 
and started building the shelter, doing most of the work himself along 
with Donald Pingleton,Bill Monroe and Ronnie Parnell.  He also had curtains
made for the shelter to be used in case of rain or bad weather.  A flag 
pole was donated by Pat Rogers and the flag was given by Bonnie Pingleton
in honor of her husband Marvin Pingleton.  A storage building was built 
for the equipment, and a restroom was built.  After vandals did damage to
the Cemetery the decision was made to have electric lights installed. The
purchase of the land at the north end of the Cemetery was the next project.

In the nine years that Earl was Chairman of the Board he accomplished many 
improvements at the Cemetery.  He spent many hours working and never quit 
even though his health began to fail. His, nephew, David Pingleton,was by 
his side helping with all the jobs and learning so he could take over after
Earl was no longer able to continue to work.

In 1994 Earl was honored by the Okay Community in appreciation for his many 
years of service the Three Rivers Cemetery.