Dave Earl, husband of Barb Melton Earl, Class of 1978, passed away Saturday, January 18.

A tsunami of supportive and loving posts on Facebook washed ashore within minutes of this post from Barb:

“Dave, the love of my life, went to be with the Lord today. He will be missed by many . . . R.I.P.”

The late Penney Melton with grandson Jaxson Melton

To compound the unbelievable grief thrust upon Barb’s family, her brother John’s wife, Penney, passed away the day before Dave did.

Barb sent me a photo of Penney with her grandson, Jaxson Melton. Cancer claimed Penney.

As Barb wrote to me: “When it rains, it pours.”

Barb and Dave lived in Wadstown, West Virginia. They celebrated their 28^th wedding anniversary last June.

Dave was a straight shooter, and not just with a hunting rifle. He had a no-holds-barred attitude about political chicanery. But he never made it about Dave. Just about doing what’s right.  

While Barb is a Monongah High graduate, she spent some time living in Mannington.

Barbara’s siblings are Charles Melton, Class of 1973, who lives in Elkins with wife Tamma; John Melton, Class of 1975, married to Penney; and Thomas Melton, North Marion 1984 grad. Their parents were Claudia Voyle Melton and George Walter Melton, Jr.

Sara Earl is Barb and Earl’s daughter.

Tyler McCarty posted:

“So sorry, Barb. I hope he and Grandma Brewer are getting to talk again. Dave was a great guy. And an influential guy in my life, especially during hunting season.”

Tyler is a medical lab technician married to Stephanie McCarthy. He also is friends with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

And both Tyler and Dave could get goofy about their Mountaineers.

Send your Mountaineers some help from Heaven, Dave!