Rev. Earl Stirewalt, 93, of St. Simons died Dec. 1

Brunswick, Ga. - The Rev. Earl Franklin Stirewalt, 93, of St Simons Island died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007.

His funeral was 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at First Baptist Church on St Simons Island. Burial was at Oglethorpe Memorial Gardens on St Simons Island.

Rev. Stirewalt was a graduate of Mercer University and Andover- Newton Theological Seminary. A Baptist minister for over 70 years, he was pastor at Baptist churches in Bonair, Newton, Mass. and Nahunta, Dublin, Lithonia, Madison and Millen. At the end of his pastorate, he served the Georgia Baptist Convention for 18 years in the Evangelism and Missions Department, lastly as secretary of work with "National Baptist."

After retirement, he served as interim pastor for a number of churches in North Georgia. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of St. Simons Island and was pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church of Lithonia.

A native of Georgia, Rev. Stirewalt lived on St Simons Island for the last nine years. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Vivian Christine Stirewalt, and a brother, Harvey Lee Stirewalt.

He is survived by his son David Earle Stirewalt (Anne Marie) of St Simons Island, daughter Rita S. Burge (Charles) of Greensboro and St. Simons Island, and son Richard Paul Stirewalt (Trinka) of Thomasville; sisters Lucille S. Dickson and Sarah S. Mendenhall, both of North Augusta, S.C.; four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the McAfee School of Christianity at Mercer University in Atlanta.