Dr. Henry W. Easterling

Dr. Henry W. Easterling Jr., born on September 13, 1928 in Grahn, Carter County, Kentucky, died April 2, 2012 at the Pikeville Medical Center after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry W. Easterling Sr., and his mother, Ida Fields Easterling and four brothers; Everett Easterling, William B. Easterling, Winfield Easterling, and his twin brother James Franklin Easterling; and three sisters,; Dora James, Goldie Coleman and Emily Pinson White. He is survived by one brother Roy Easterling of Rockhouse and a host of nephews, nieces, and friends. He attended public schools in Carter and Pike Conties in Kentucky and graduated from Hellier High School. As a young man, he worked in the coal mines of Eastern Kentucky and was licensed as a mine foreman at age 24. He entered the United States Army Air Force in 1946, served a three year term, and was honorably discharged in 1949. He ws in the Air Force Reserves and returned to active duty in the United States Air Force in 1957. While in the Air Force, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Science degree in Secondary Education from the University of Southern California. He served overseas tours in Okinawa, Korea, Thailand and West Germany and spent brief periods in the Philippines, China, Japan, and England. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medals and several service and campaign medals. His duties in the United States Air Force included unit and base level administrator, teacher, and School Administrator. He was honorably retired at Hurlburt Field, Florida on December 31, 1974 with 24 years total service. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force he obtained a Specialist in Education Degree in Higher Education from the Morehead State University and Doctor of Education degree in Adult Education from Indiana University. He then was an assistant Professor at Union College, Barbourville, Kentucky. In 1981, he returned to Florida and began a second career in real estate. This included investments, teaching duties and broker activities. From 1987 to 1990 Dr. Easterling spent his leisure time researching and writing a history of the Easterling family. He was the primary author of Volume One of the Easterling Family published in 1990. He became a member of the First Baptist Church of Mary Esther, Florida in 1973, and was active in church activities until 1997 when a serious illness forced him into retirement. He returned to Olive Hill, Kentucky in November 1997, where he lived until 2008. He then moved to Pikeville where he resided at Cedar Creek Assisted Living facility until the beginning of his illness in December 2011. He loved living there and he often spoke about what good car eth eladies that worked there provided. Visitation will be Wednesday April 4, 2012 at the Lucas & Son Funeral Home. Church services will be Wednesday at 7p.m. The funeral will be Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 12 noon with Brother Morgan Chapman officiating. The burial will follow in the Johnson Memorial Park in Pikeville.