Final Salute

GLOVER, EARL (AGE 88) OF WALDORF, MARYLAND
Earl Glover Sr. was born on November 6, 1936, to Jimmie and Sarah Glover, who were sharecroppers in a small farming town in Ocilla, Georgia. He was the youngest of five children: one girl and four boys. His mother passed away during the first year of his life and his paternal grandparents raised him and his siblings for the next eight years. At the age of nine, he and two of his siblings moved to Tampa, Florida with his father. During his early school years his father suffered a stroke and could not work. So, Earl and his brother had to find employment to support the family. He used to shine shoes and worked part time as a bus boy. His older siblings moved to New York City to live with their aunt.
As a young boy growing up in Tampa, Florida, Earl enjoyed reading comic books, listening to rhythm & blues, and jazz music. He attended the Harlem Academy School, George Washington Carver Jr. High School, and Don Thompson Senior High Vocational School. He loved going crabbing with his friends. He was a die-hard sports fan and played basketball after school.
In 1955, Earl joined the U.S. Navy as an Ordnance Mechanic and got an opportunity to travel to many countries in the Far East, South America, Middle East, and Europe. He spent a large amount of time in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
During his naval career, Earl served on an aircraft carrier, two destroyers, an ammunition ship, and a tank landing ship. He also served on shore at bases in Virginia, Washington State, California, and Washington, DC.
He completed two nine-month tours in Vietnam with the Navy Seabees in support of the 1st Marine Division and the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. He also served in Hue Phu Bia, Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division during North Vietnam’s notorious ‘Tet Offensive’
Upon Earl’s return from Vietnam, he was assigned to a support group for the Navy’s Seal Team-2 at Little Creek, Virginia which lasted approximately two years. Earl proudly served in the Navy for 21 years reaching the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer [E8]. He was awarded the Navy’s Combat Actions Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam Service and National Defense Service Medals, The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, and many additional awards.
Earl married his high school sweetheart, Verdell A. Phillips, early in his military career. He and his wife, Verdell, had four sons: Earl Jr., Frederick, Reuben, and James. Later in life, he married his second wife, Betty G. Tutson, who gave birth to his fifth son, Derak and his stepdaughter, Coletia. At the age of 33, Earl married his third wife, Esther M. Bauldock, and had his sixth son, Brian.
Earl retired from the Navy in 1976 and settled in Maryland. Earl obtained an associate’s degree at the Prince George’s Community College and started a new career with the DC Department of Corrections. He retired as a Captain in 1996 after twenty years of service. Earl then moved on to work as a government contractor with Boeing. He retired from Boeing at the age of 65.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmie and Sarah Glover, his three brothers (Joseph, Daniel, and Lincoln), and his wives, Betty and Esther.
Cherished memories of Earl will live on with his sister, Hattie Smalls, his sons (Earl Jr., Frederick (Robin), Brian, Reuben (Linda), Derak, and James (Annie)), his stepdaughter (Coletia), cousins, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and close friends.
He is loved, missed, and will always be remembered.
May he rest in peace.
His viewing will be held from 11:30am until time of service 12:30pm, on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A, 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640. Interment, 2:30 pm, Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham.
The services will be live streamed and the link will be available on Tuesday, January 28th.
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To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.