Earl Minter

Earl Allen Minter, 78, of Joshua, passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at his home. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 31 at First United Methodist Church in Joshua. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 376, Joshua, TX 76058; Mission Hospice (checks should be made to Mission of Choice), 505 N. Ridgeway Dr., Suite 173, Cleburne, TX 76033; or a charity of choice. Earl was born on February 21, 1934 to Dorine Childress Waters and Howard Earl Minter in Goose Creek, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelors of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. On September 8, 1956, he married Margaret Ann Hart in the Cedar Bayou Methodist Church in Baytown. Earl retired from Lockheed Martin in 1991 with 34 years of service. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Joshua. Earl was a private pilot, and his passions included his family, flying, hunting, camping and traveling. He was a skilled craftsman, gifted mediator and patient teacher. Earl was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Judy Minter Varnell. Survivors include his loving wife Ann of 55 years; children and their spouses, Martha and Mike Petraitis of Midland and Darcy and Glen Minter of Wichita Falls; grandsons Dustin and Nathan Petraitis; granddaughters Jessica and Maddison Baggs; sister Linda Duran and husband Don of Kerrville; sister-in-law Betty Cashat and husband David of Arlington; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.