Earle Stoops, 83, of Butler passed away at 3 a.m. Friday at VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler.

He was born April 27, 1928, in Homestead, the son of the late Earle Elmer Stoops Sr. and the late Olive (Coe) Stoops.

Earle was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the VFW Post 249, the Butler Elks 170 and the Lyndora American Legion. He served in the 82nd Airborne of the U.S. Army.

He was retired from the Butler Eagle after 43 years.

Surviving are his wife, Mary C. (Brown) Stoops, who he married on Jan. 29, 1962; three sons, John (Patty) Stoops of Butler, Jim (Kim) Stoops of South Carolina and Commander Sgt. Major Brian (Carol) Stoops of Germany; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one nephew, Charles D. Closson of Butler.

He was preceded in death by his son, Earle Stoops.

<B>STOOPS</B> — There will be a private service and private burial in Slippery Rock Cemetery for Earle Stoops, who died Friday, Feb. 10, 2012.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA 16001.Arrangements by the <B>Young Funeral Home</B>, Butler.For more information, visit www.youngfuneralhomes.com.