Jerry and Linda Butler

Earl F. Funderburk, born November 6, 1927. Served in the U. S. Army (infantry) from 1946 - 47 and 1949 - 52. Countries served in were Italy, 1946 - 47; Japan, 1949 - 50; anad Korea, 1950 - 51. Discharged with the rank of corporal. Battles in which he participated: Pusan Perimeter, September 17 -20, 1950. Awarded the Army Occupation Medal, WWII Victory Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Koren Service Medal w/5 Bronze Stars, Occupation Medal of Japan and Presidential Unit Citation (2).

His family includes Grady, Vera, Ruth, Earl Jr., Susie (deceased), Randy and Gail.

The News Leader, Parsons, TN, June 26, 2002, Page B-5

Funderburk's Celebrate Fiftieth Anniversary

Earl F. Funderburk, son of the late Grady and Vera Funderburk of Grays Chapel and Ruth A. Bennett of Watertown, NY., were married on July 4, 1952 at Asbury Methodist Church in Watertown and will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this July 4th.

Earl and Ruth met while Earl was stationed at Camp Drum while serving in the United States Army. Shortly after they were married Earl brought his bride to Decatur County, where they have lived the majority of their 50 years together. They raised their three children here, Earl Jr., Randy and Gail. Earl Jr. better known as "Fonzo" married Gail Box, from Beacon and they have two sons, Jason and Josh and now live in the Bath Springs area. Randy joined the Navy in 1979 and after spending time in San Diego, CA., he decided to settle on the West Coast. He currently resides in Ramona, CA. Gail lives in Smyrna with her husband, Franklin and their two children, Jennifer and Jonathan. Earl and Ruth have one great-grandson, Grant Jordan Funderburk, son of Jason and Kristen (Jordan) Funderburk.

Earl and Ruth reside in Bath Springs. Happy 50th Anniversary Earl and Ruth!

Earl Fonzo Funderburk

Earl Fonzo Funderburk, Sr., of Bath Springs, Tenn., passed away at 97 years old on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

Earl was born Nov. 6, 1927, to Grady and Vera Funderburk, and lived the majority of his life in Decatur County.

Earl served in the Army in WWII and the Korean War in 1946-1947 and 1949-1952 before he was honorably discharged. In 2009, Earl received 43 medals for his service including the Korean Service Medal with a Bronze and Silver Star, the United Nations Service Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the WWII Victory Medal.

Earl married his wife, Ruth Bennett Funderburk, on July 4, 1952. They had four children together: Earl (Fonzo) Jr, Susie (passed as infant), Randy and Gail.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Vera and Grady Funderburk; four of his siblings, Glenn Holland Funderburk, Grady Lynn Funderburk, Peggy Sue Funderburk and Uneta F Funderburk; daughter, Susie Funderburk; and his wife, Ruth.

Earl leaves behind three children: Fonzo (Gail) Funderburk of Bath Springs, Tenn., Randy Funderburk of Palm Springs, California and Gail (Franklin) Smith of Smyrna, Tenn.; brother, Ted Funderburk; four grandchildren: Jason (Kristy) Funderburk, Josh (Angie) Funderburk, Jennifer (Ray) Baxter and Jonathan (Macy) Smith; and eight great-grandchildren, Grant Funderburk, Ally Funderburk, Caleb Funderburk, Ben Baxter, Wes Funderburk, Belle Baxter, Addison Funderburk and Brooks Baxter.

Visitation will be at Parsons Mortuary on Friday, March 7, 2025, from 10 a.m. until the funeral service. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 7, 2025, at 1 p.m. in the Parsons Mortuary chapel with burial to follow in the Concord Cemetery in Decaturville, Tenn.