Final Salute

HARLESTON – Earl D. Hadfield, 90, of Charleston passed away Saturday (Jan. 25, 2025) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon.

The funeral service honoring his life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Harper-Swickard Funeral Home. Burial with military rites by Paul McVey V.F.W. Post 1592 and its auxiliary and Charleston American Legion Post 93 will follow in Roselawn Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor may be directed to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Earl was born March 5, 1934, in Champaign, son of George S. and Viola M. (Dunlap) Hadfield. He married Patricia L. Apgar on June 6, 1954, at the Tuscola Christian Church; she survives.

Also surviving are two children, Steven D. (Debra) Hadfield of Kirkwood, Mo., and Cyndi A. (Michael) Cross of Vista, Calif.; her grandchildren, Shaun, Rachel (Matt) Murphy, Evan, Christopher, John, Kevin, Sydney and Mitchell Hadfield; and several great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Dolores J. Lewis; and a son, K. Douglas Hadfield.

In high school, Earl was a gifted athlete, excelling in football, basketball and track and field.

Earl was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving as a Seabee during the Korean War, working as a heavy-equipment mechanic. While he was stationed in Bermuda, he played on a semi-pro basketball team. Earl later transferred to a base in Canada, where he was loaned to the Canadian Navy, and he played on their basketball team.

He was a member of the Central Christian Church of Charleston, Mattoon American Legion Post 88 and the I.B.E.W. Local 34. Earl had served as a Cub Scout Troop Master when his children were young. He enjoyed computers, loved country music, and was a talented guitar player.

Earl retired from Celotex, where he had worked as an engineer.