Earl Lafon Fry, Sr.

Earl Lafon Fry, Sr., 92, of Terre Haute passed away early Wednesday morning, February 1, 2023, surrounded by family.  He was a shipping forklift operator for Wabash Fibre Box Company/International Paper for 43 years.  Earl was born December 20, 1930 in Carbon, IN to Henry Pearly Fry and Myrtle Marie Garloch Fry.  His wife of 65 years, Edna Mae Fry, preceded him in death in 2014.

Survivors include his children, Diane Allen, Earl Fry, Jr. (Eva) and Richard “Rick” Fry (Robin);  grandchildren, Bruce Allen, Jr. (Tammy), Kelly Shultz (George), Kari Winters (Brye), Justin Allen (Paula) and Jessica Nevill (Tyler);  great-grandchildren, Ernie (Kayla), Garth (Tori), Faith, Brilea, Grayson, Kameron, Mason, Owen, Adeline, Oliver and Remington;  and great-great-grandchildren, Madison, Kinser and Zoey.  Also surviving is his sister, Betty Robinson;  sister-in-law, Mary Lou Hiatt;  and several nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents and wife, he was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Bruce Allen, Sr.;  brothers, Jimmy Fry and Billy Joe Fry;  sister, Margaret Marts;  brothers-in-law, Stephen Hiatt, Mike Cowden, George Robinson, Murray "June" McCullough, Sr. and Wilmer "Bill" Schoffstall, Sr.;  and sisters-in-law, Anna Louise McCullough, Martha Schoffstall, Martha Ruth Cowden and Modena Fry.

Earl was a member of Northside Community United Methodist Church, International Paper Union, Terre Haute Masonic Lodge #86 F & AM, Scottish Rite Valley of Terre Haute, Noodle Club at Northside and Trinity United Methodist Churches, Boy Scouts of America, Terre Haute North Athletics supporter and Haunted Happenings.  He was known as “Grandpa Fry” at the Terre Town Baseball Concession Stand where they named a baseball diamond in his honor.  Earl also helped build the Terre Town baseball park, Wabash Valley Softball Complex, Northside UMC Softball Park and the North High School Softball Concession Facilities and batting cages.  He enjoyed mushroom hunting, fishing, pitching horseshoes and loved watching his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Cathy Shepherd for the loving care she provided to Earl.

Services will be conducted at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, February 4, 2023 in Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25 ^th Street, beginning with Masonic Memorial Services by Terre Haute Lodge #86 and followed by funeral services with Rev. Clark Cowden and Pastor Steve Moore officiating.  Burial will be in Highland Lawn Cemetery.  Visitation is scheduled for Friday from 4:00-8:00 PM and also prior to services on Saturday from 11:00 AM- 12:00 Noon in the funeral home.  If friends should so desire, memorial contributions may be made to Northside Community Church, c/o Memorial Garden Fund, 1075 North Fruitridge Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47804 or to VNA/Hospice of the Wabash Valley, 400 8 ^th Avenue, Terre Haute, IN 47804.  Funeral information and tributes may be found at www.callahanandhughes.com .