Earl C. Sterling, Sr.

Allegany- Earl C. Sterling, Sr., of 2936 Five Mile Road, Allegany and formerly of Portville, passed away Saturday (April 23, 2022) at the Olean General Hospital.

Born July 22, 1932 in Hydetown, PA, he was one of twelve children born to Harry and Lena Murray Sterling. At the age of 6, he was raised by his older sister, Elizabeth Snyder.  

On June 30, 1956, at the former First Methodist Church in Olean, he married Virginia Nunamaker, who predeceased him on November 19, 2013.

Earl worked for 43 years for Dresser Rand in Olean. He enjoyed mowing yards and in his younger years, he enjoyed hunting with his sons.

He is survived by five children; Diane (Greg) Walker of Portville, Patricia Shaffer of North Carolina, Earl C. Sterling, Jr., of Texas, William (Donna) Sterling of Portville, and Pamela (Lance) Appleby of Little Genesee; Bob (Jane) Holtz of Portville whom he loved like a son; 17 grandchildren; Doug Newman, Hannah (John Gordnier) Walker, Ken Sherwood, Dan (Tammy) Murphy, Kim Murphy, Jennifer (Jason Dobson) Hadley, Joe (Amanda Smith) Hadley, Alexis Sterling, Nicholas (Abbie) Sterling, Alecia (Chance Wilson) Sterling, Amber Aderman, Jessica (Alyssia Taggerty) Babb, Corey (Hannah Havens) Appleby, Kacie (Brendon) Willover, Heather (Jon) Burgess, Nichole (Kevin) Holtz, Jason Holtz; 18 great-grandchildren; Gwendolyn (Winnie) Gordnier, Tiffany Muschaweck, Joe Muschaweck, Sierrha Rose, Sabrea Murphy, Aubree Dobson, Joseph Hadley II, Sterling Hadley, Declen Sterling, Lily Wilson, Waden Wilson, Luke Aderman, Nora Appleby,  Maleigha Burgess, Caleb Burgess, Damien Warren, Kayonna Warren, Gabby Holtz; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife, he was predeceased by; his siblings Lee, Francis, Clair, Merle, Wayne, Kenneth, Ralph, Charles, Edward, Paul Sterling, and Elizabeth Snyder; one daughter-in-law, Melissa Sterling; son-in-law, Dennis Shaffer; one grandson-in-law; and twin great-granddaughters.

Friends will be received at the Guenther Funeral Home Inc., 1303 E. State Street, Olean on Thursday (April 28, 2022) from noon-2pm.  Funeral services will follow at 2pm at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Allegany Cemetery, Allegany.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6400 Sheridan Dr. Suite 320, Buffalo, NY 14221.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.guentherfh.com