Earl Long Brightbill

Earl Long Brightbill, 95, died April 17, 2024 in his Laureldale residence. 

He was the widower of Dorothy Louise (Beck) Brightbill.

Born October 23, 1928, in Spring Township, he was a son of the late Elmer Samuel and Helen Irene (Long) Brightbill. 

Earl was employed as a bar straightener with Rockwell International for 45 years, retiring in 1990.  He also was self-employed doing part-time carpentry work for many years.

He served in the U.S. Army Artillery, 25th Division from 1951-1953, during the Korean Conflict.

He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, Laureldale.

Earl was a member of the Charles H. Steele Post, Shillington, American Legion, Gouglersville Fire Company, and he was very active with the Camp Fire Girls of America for which his wife was a group leader. 

He was a farm boy at heart and enjoyed vegetable gardening and sharing his harvest with his family and friends.  He was a great neighbor, and also enjoyed playing golf, traveling with his family, and pet sitting for all of the family pets.

Surviving are his three children: Melody J., wife of Eugene A. Jones of Spring Township; Diana M. Brightbill of Laureldale; and E. Lon, husband of Nancy (LePage) Brightbill of Clarksville, MD.

Also surviving are his five grandchildren: Kristian B. Jones, Shanna L. (Jones), wife of Cody Boyer, E. Zachary Brightbill, husband of Laura (Gooding) Brightbill, Cody Brightbill, and Griffin Brightbill.

Other survivors include three of his 11 siblings:  Beatrice, wife of Ellis Garman of Sinking Spring; Russell, husband of Barbara (Stoudt) Brightbill of Schwenksville; and Kenneth, husband of Carol (Reinhart) Brightbill of Reinholds.   

Earl was preceded in death by eight siblings: Herbert E. Brightbill, Harry E. Brightbill, Harold C. Brightbill, Betty M. Brightbill, Curtis A. Brightbill, Mildred (Brightbill) Zeigler; Agnes (Brightbill) Sweigart and Larry Brightbill. 

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, April 30th at 11 a.m., with a visitation from 10 -11 at Stitzel Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., 3300 Kutztown Road, Laureldale.  Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery at Belleman’s Church, Centre Township.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to "Lebanon VA Medical Center (10V), 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon, PA 17042, in memory of Earl L. Brightbill."

For online condolences, visit www.StitzelFamilyFuneralHomes.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Earl Long Brightbill, please visit our floral store.