Robert Earl Bostian

          Robert Earl Bostian, age 97, of Taylorsville, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, May 27, 2024 at Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Earl was born the middle child of the late Thomas Chase and Luda Bowman Bostian on Tuesday, September 7, 1926.

            He attended Wittenburg School for seven years but had to quit to work on his family farm, raising cows, hogs, and horses. The fields were full of wheat, corn, and lots of cotton.

            Earl was a life-long member of Friendship Lutheran Church. In his younger days, he and his family would ride a horse drawn wagon to church and in the summertime he and his siblings would walk to church for Bible school.

            When he was around 16 years old, he bought his first car- an A-model for $35, which he and his buddies would drive to town on weekends.

            On December 14, 1944, he joined the US Army, Infantry Division and started his military service at Camp Cross, SC. When the sergeant asked if he could drive a pickup, he thought “driving a truck all day” wouldn’t be so bad, so he volunteered. The sergeant immediately took Earl behind the building and gave him a wheel barrel and said to start “picking up rocks”. Then off to Camp Blanding, Florida, Fort Mead, Maryland, Washington State and on a ship to Okinawa, Japan. He was sent to Korea twice before receiving his discharge in July 1947 at Stoneman, California. Earl was very proud to serve his country as a WWII Vet and he continued to serve by being a member of the DAV Honor Guard. He loved to be a part of this organization, supporting all their activities and working in the community.

            In the summer of 1944, he met the “love of his life” and on May 28, 1945, he married Mae Blair. They were married for 68 years, until her death in 2013. He was also preceded in death by two sons. Robert Allen and Roger Lynn Bostian; his siblings, Thomas Bostian, Cecil Bostian, Pauline Carrigan, Elbert Bostian, Elwyn Bostian, and Margie Smith.

            Earl’s work career was in furniture. First at Suggs & Hardin, then Hickory Chair and Highland Furniture. He retired from Century Furniture at Christmas in 1990 after 40 years of service.

            Earl leaves behind a number of nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends to cherish his memory: Wayne Bostian, Janice Shook, Bobby Carrigan, Wanda Bentley, Brenda Price, Pam Mecimore, Chris Bostian, Kim Bryant, Ricky Bostian, Lisa Bentley, Debbie Cook, and Donna Pennell.

            A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, May 30, 2024 at Friendship Lutheran Church. Pastor Josh Tucker and Pastor Jeff Carson will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors accorded by Alexander Veterans Honor Guard. There will be a reserved seating section for DAV Chapter 84 and 6, and American Legion.

            The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the Family Life Center at Friendship Lutheran Church.

            The body will lie-in-state from 9 a.m. until Noon, Thursday, May 30, 2024 at Adams Funeral Home.

            Memorials may be made to: Alexander Veteran Honor Guard, 582 Carrigan Road, Taylorsville, NC 28681

            Condolences may be sent to: www.adamsfunerals.com.

            Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Services are honored to be serving the family of Robert Earl Bostian.

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