In the early morning hours of Monday, March 24, 2014, Earnest E. “Earnie” Deal, 68, of Oil City, was received into the loving arms of his Heavenly Father.
Born at home on April 26, 1945 in Borden Mines, Maryland, he was a son of the late James and Viola Winebrenner Deal.
He graduated from Beall High School in 1963 and served in the U.S. Army in Germany during the Vietnam War, earning the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. After leaving the Army, Earnie attended Allegheny Community College and graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1975.
Earnie worked his entire life as a funeral director. He began his career in Erie, PA, at John J. Quinn Funeral Home, where he worked for nine years. In 2012, he retired from Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home in Chambersburg, PA, after 27 years of service.
He began attending the Frostburg Church of the Nazarene as a youth but did not come to know the Lord personally until his dad started attending and was saved. Earnie’s life was guided by his faith in Jesus Christ. Feeling a call to the ministry, he had considered becoming a pastor, but was lead to the profession of funeral director, which he considered his ministry.
He was a member of the Oil City Community Alliance Church.
He was a loving husband, a devoted father, an always willing to help neighbor, a mentor to many young funeral directors, and a proud Grand Pap. A cross-country runner while in high school, Earnie enjoyed attending class reunions and recently celebrated his 50th. He was a fan of all Penn State sports and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On June 3, 1972, he married Mary Ann Marley who survives.
In addition to his wife, Earnie is survived by two sons, Matthew Deal and his wife Rebekah of Oil City, and Michael Deal and his wife Teri of Munhall; and five grandchildren, Benji Deal of Munhall, Madeleine Deal of Oil City, and Brooke, Bryce, and Taylor Gart of Oil City.
Also surviving are a sister, Juanita Heavner of Bunker Hill, WV; two brothers, David Deal and his wife Mary of Manchester, MD, and Harold Deal of Chambersburg, PA; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Earnie was preceded in death by two brothers, James Deal and Eugene Deal; and a brother-in-law, Lane Heavner.
Friends may call at the Morrison Funeral Home, 110 Petroleum Street, Oil City, PA on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and at the Sowers Funeral Home, 60 W Main Street, Frostburg, MD on Thursday, March 27, 2014, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
A prayer service will be held on Wednesday at the Morrison Funeral Home following visitation.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM Friday at the Frostburg Church of the Nazarene 150 Center St. with Rev. Jerry Breedlove, Jr. and Rev. Galen Winebrenner officiating.
Burial will be in the Frostburg Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Oil City Community Alliance “Chair Fund,” 411 Seneca Street, Oil City, PA 16301.