Edward James Earls
1940-2022
Edward James Earls, a long-time resident of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., died July 13, 2022, in Colorado Springs, Colo. He was 81 years old.
Ed was born December 15, 1940, in Sylva, N.C., and spent his early years moving around the country — and, briefly, to Mexico — with a “tunnel superintendent” father whose many public works projects included the Hoover Dam.
Ed graduated from Swain County (N.C.) high school in 1959. He went on to earn a history degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and serve with the Army National Guard, before settling in Berkeley Springs and the career from which he would retire, as a sales manager for Fleetwood in Hancock, Md.
Ed loved history, travel and animals. In his later years, he especially enjoyed spending time with his two “truly wonderful” (his words) granddaughters, who knew him as “Mr. Fix-it.” Ed would do anything to show love and support for his family, and he extended that generosity of spirit to his many friends and acquaintances.
He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Theodore Earls, and nephew, Teddy Earls, of Hampton, Va.; and his parents, Early James Earls and Grace Edwards Earls of Bryson City, N.C.
Ed is survived by his college sweetheart and wife of 54 years, Sandra Dunnagan Earls; daughters, Stephanie Earls, of Colorado Springs, and Shelby Earls, of Berkeley Springs; granddaughters Monroe Lynn Wohleber and Audrey Irene Wohleber, of Berkeley Springs; niece Kimberly Earls, of Fulton, Md.; sister-in-law, Andrea Earls; and nephews, Trent Lee and Ricky Wallace. He also leaves behind his beloved cat, Siegfried.
Ed’s final wish was that his ashes be returned to his native soil of North Carolina, where many generations of his family rest. In keeping with his requests, and those of the family, there will be no funeral or public memorial service.
Those wishing to honor Ed’s memory are encouraged to donate to a nonprofit supporting a cause that was close to his heart, such as The National Trust for Historic Preservation or, locally, the Humane Society of Morgan County or BlackCat Music Cooperative.
