Earl W. Killian

Earl Willard Killian, 102, of Daytona Beach Shores, FL., went to be with our Lord on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, while under Hospice care in his home and the care of loved ones. Earl was born Tuesday, August 3, 1920, to the late Philip and Helen (Dilliot) Killian. Pre-deceased by his beloved wife Ruth (Selvey) Killian, with whom he shared a beautiful life for 62 years. Brother to the late Clarence Killian, the late Milton Killian, and the late infant John Killian. Cherished uncle to Judith Daugherty, Barbara Safriet, Joan Eckler, Clark Killian, the late Jean Brunner, and Jack Killian. Earl was a 1938 graduate of Williamsville High School in Williamsville, NY, where he grew up on his family’s farm. After graduation, he attended the University of Alabama, where he played football until a knee injury cut his playing short. After getting his B.S. in Physical Education in 1942, he joined the US Navy Reserve, serving as a lieutenant Navy Pilot and flying anti-submarine blimps. He completed his service and was Honorably Discharged June 1961. He valued education, and combined that with his love of sports, becoming the Director of Athletics at the University of Connecticut from 1946-1950. He continued that career path, and was the Program Director for physical education at Towson University in Maryland for the remainder of his career. Earl started the school’s baseball, soccer, and basketball teams, being the first coach for each. Upon retirement in 1973, Earl & Ruth moved to a farm in Stewartstown, PA, where they raised champion Great Pyrenees dogs. They also resided in Fairfield Glade, TN, and Sebring, FL, before settling in Daytona Beach Shores, FL. Earl was an avid golfer, golfing twice a week until his mid 90s, and hit a hole in one as recently as the age of 92! Earl and Ruth also traveled extensively, traveling the US in their RV, and they have been around the world twice. Earl would attribute his long life to “luck”, which was surely on his side multiple times throughout his life. He will be loved, cherished, and missed by those he leaves behind.

There will be a service to honor Earl’s memory Tuesday, October 4, at 1 pm at the Volusia Memorial Funeral Home in Port Orange, FL. There will be a Zoom link for the service, so those out of town may join. His final resting place will be beside his dear wife Ruth at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the charity of choice that supports veterans or education. Arrangements are under the care and trust of Volusia Memorial Funeral Home Port Orange.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.VolusiaMemorialFuneral.com for the Killian family.