Earl H. Potter

Earl H. Potter, 86, of Ventura died suddenly Friday, February 3, 2012, in the outdoors at the ranch he loved near his home. Earl was born August 12, 1925, in the beautiful village of Cambridge, Vermont, to Myron Church and Blanche Coburn Potter. He attended elementary school in East Berkshire, Vermont near the farm that his family owned. Earl graduated from Richford High School in 1944 and immediately enlisted in the United States Navy. He was assigned duty as a SeaBee in Port Hueneme, California, where he met his future wife Edith Floyd Parker. In 1946 after a tour in the South Pacific Theater, Earl returned to California. Upon his discharge from the Navy he and Edith were married in June of that year. They then moved to his home state of Vermont residing in St. Albans where he worked for the Central Vermont Railroad. He was a fireman on the last of the steam locomotives.

Earl and Edith had a son, Stephen and daughter, Sherry born while they lived in Vermont. In 1952 the family relocated to Oxnard, California where Earl went to work for Shell Chemical Company. In 1965 he became a self-employed painting contractor which he did until retirement. For a time they resided in Susanville, California, and in Klamath Falls, Oregon. They returned to live in Ventura for the past seven years.

Being raised on a farm, Earl never lost the love of working in the soil, planting and growing vegetables and flowers which he freely shared with family and friends. Earl was a very skilled fisherman, always returning with a large catch. He was an avid Dodger’s fan, never missing a game on TV and was privileged to attend several games recently where he sat in the Dugout Club.

Earl was a faithful member of Ventura Baptist Church enjoying the fellowship of the Jubilee Class. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wallace Chaffee Post, #1679 and the American Legion Post #339. He was also a member and past officer of the California State Old Time Fiddler’s Association, District #8, and a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Fireman, Central Vermont Railroad.

He will be remembered as a kind, gentle, friendly man, who will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Janice Potter of Klamath Falls, Oregon; daughter and son-in-law, Sherry Scott and Timothy Jack of Ventura; grandchildren, Ryan Potter and his wife Denise of Susanville, Kathryn Potter of Chowchilla, Bobby Gregorchuk and his wife Darcy of Ventura; Julie Gregorchuk and her partner Linda Kueneman of Ventura; step grandchildren Megan Scott Ruffinelli of Ventura and Jacob Scott of Milton, Vt; great-grandchildren, Ian and Kyle Potter of Susanville, Savanah, Victoria and Preston Potter of Klamath Falls, Oregon; Gage and Caden Gregorchuk of Ventura; Sarah and Carrie McDonough of Ventura; sister, Doris Farnsworth of Essex Jct., Vermont. Also his very special new friend and companion Muriel Truelove of Ventura.

Earl was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years Edith Potter in August 2010, his brother, Gordon Potter and his step-son Lawrence Parker.

Visitation will take place Thursday, February 9, 3:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.

Services will be held Friday, February 10, 10:00 A.M. also at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, with the Reverends Leonard DeWitt and Dan Hull officiating. Burial will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park with Military Honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Ste. 300, Jacksonville, FL. 32256, got@woundedwarriorproject.org or to the St Albans Historical Museum,

P. O. Box 722, St. Albans, VT 05478 for use in the Central Vermont Railroad Exhibit or the Military Exhibit.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.