Mr. Earl Ethridge of Abbeville, AL, passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2015, at his residence. He was 79. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, September 5, 2015 at Union Freewill Baptist Church with Rev Ray S. Reiley and Minister Tanner Ethridge officiating. The Eulogy will be given by his son, Kevin Ethridge, with Skeen Funeral Home of Troy directing. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 am until service time. Interment will be at a later date. He was born December 6, 1935 in Henry County, AL to the late Shelby Lanton and Emma Jewel Ethridge Farmer. Earl proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a member of the Marine Corps League in Dothan and a member of the Bradley Keller American Legion Post 119, Abbeville. He was a former plant mgr. for the Headland Observer/Dothan Progress Newspaper in Headland. He was a dedicated worker and supporter of Abbeville Christian Academy in Abbeville and an Executive Committee member of the Henry County Republican Party. Earl was also a member of the Union Freewill Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Arthur Thomas Lanton. He is survived by his wife; Sylvia Ethridge, Abbeville; sons: Kevin Earl Ethridge, Abbeville; Tenryu Tad Ethridge, Montgomery; daughter: Terri Dale Dupree, Jacksonville, FL; grandchildren: Tanner Ethridge (Kimberly), Kiley Ethridge and Lauren Dupree, all of Abbeville; Juliann Dupree and Morgan Dupree both of Jacksonville; great grandchildren: Landon, Madison and Josie Ethridge, all of Abbeville; Emma Jewel Conn, Jacksonville; aunt: Clyde Hall, Abbeville, uncle: Franklin Ethridge (Joan), Dothan; and numerous cousins and friends. Serving as pallbearers will be James Daniel Ethridge, Michael Ethridge, Tanner Ethridge, Kenneth "Red" Ethridge, Tommy Searcy, Wayne Scott and Roger Scott. Honorary pallbearers will be golf and card playing buddies. Memorials may be made to ACA Generals Army, PO Box 9, Abbeville, AL, American Legion Post 119, c/o Freddie Brannon, 718 Strickland Road, Headland, AL. 36345, Union Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Will Maddox, 4635 County Road 57 S., Abbeville, AL 36310.