Obituary of Earl S. Champlin

Earl S. Champlin, Jr., 92, of Panama City, FL, formerly of Frewsburg, NY, died peacefully on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at the Bay Medical/Sacred Heart Covenant Hospice Center. He was born Dec. 12,1923 in Jamestown, the son of the late Earl S. and Hazel Swan Champlin Sr. and raised in Cassadaga, NY. He was a graduate of Cassadaga High School and Jamestown Business College. After graduation from JBC, he worked as an accountant for area businesses before joining the Jamestown Post Journal in 1954. In 1976 he became publisher of the Post Journal and in l982 was named General Manager of the Wheeling News Register in Wheeling, WV, holding that position until his retirement in 1989 after 35 years in the newspaper industry. He continued to follow the newspaper's progress until this day. In his younger years, Earl was an avid trapper, hunter and fisherman and loved his game of golf long into his retirement. He loved his family very much. He was a World War II veteran serving in the Army Air Corp in the South Pacific and Japan from 1943-1946. He was married to Grace Hopkins October 23, 1943 while stationed in Tucson, AZ. Earl attended 1st Baptist Church of Panama City and was a member of The American Legion Post 336 in Lynn Haven FL. He is survived by two sons: Craig (Sandra Harrison) Champlin of Panama City, FL, and Bryan (Vickie) Champlin Sr. of Kennedy, NY; a daughter, Brenda (Ralph) Morris of Jamestown, NY; five grandchildren: Bryan Champlin Jr., Gina Gerace, Jodell (William) Hyldahl, Allison Champlin and Megan Champlin; (19) great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He was very proud of his five generation family. Also surviving are a brother, Richard Champlin and three sisters, Dorothy Turner, Donna Nieder and Carol Sue Myers. He also loved his extended family in Panama City. He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace Champlin on May 2, 2010; and a sister, Joyce Merrill. The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Donald E. Ray will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, and for one hour prior to the service in the funeral home Friday. Memorials may be made to a charity of choice.