Earl Ruggles, 93 of Milan passed away Thursday March 14, 2013 at the Waters of Dillsboro, Ross, at Dillsboro. Earl was born in Poplar Flats (Tollsboro), Kentucky on Tuesday June 3, 1919 the son of Chris and Ola (Manley) Ruggles, who moved to Pierceville when Earl was 9 years old. Earl graduated from Napoleon High School in 1938 and worked in construction and began wiring houses. He served in the 912th Signal Crop, US Army during WWII in the Pacific where he repaired communications equipment and trained pilots to use radar. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and trained others to repair electronic equipment. About 1955, he opened a radio and TV repair business in Milan which he operated for about 45 years. He was active in many community organizations and a member of the I.O.O.F. Odd Fellows Lodge for 50 years.
Earl is survived by his wife of 72 years, Laverne; two daughters Cora Johnson (Louis Huron) of Osgood, and Karen (Laren) Hunter of Milan; one brother, Ralph Ruggles of Milan, three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Leroy, Newell and Herb Ruggles and a sister Edith Eaglin.
Funeral services will be at 2PM Saturday March 16 at Hogan Hill Cemetery, 13298 N. Hogan Road, Aurora 47001 with Rev. Harris Long officiating. Memorials may be to Milan Fire Dept. or Milan Rescue 30 through the funeral home. Laws-Carr-Moore Funeral Home, Milan is entrusted with the arrangements. (Box 243, Milan 47031—(812)654-2141. Go to www.lawscarrmoore.com to sign the on line register book.