POCATELLO — Earl Brady Barkdull, 84, passed away peacefully Monday, January 15, 2007, at the Idaho State Veterans Home.
Earl was born January 25, 1922, in Montpelier, Idaho, to Ernest and Edra (Dunn) Barkdull. He grew up in Montpelier and graduated from Montpelier High School in 1941.
Earl was a state champion boxer and was undefeated his senior year. He joined the Army Air Corps on June 25, 1941, as an airplane mechanic. He worked mostly on P-38s, B-17s and B-24s. His favorite plane to work on was the P-38. He was discharged on October 13, 1945, as a staff sergeant.
After the war, Earl returned to Montpelier, where he drove trucks for a mining company.
He met and married Bonnie McAuley in 1945. Bonnie and Earl moved to Pocatello and Earl attended Idaho State University in the auto body repair program. He worked in auto body repair for 26 years, mostly self-employed and at C. Ed Flandro’s. In 1971, Earl and Bonnie purchased the Hoffbrau Bar. They retired in 1985. After retirement they spent a lot of time camping and fishing.
Earl was an avid baseball fan. He coached Bannock Boys Baseball with his good buddy, Lyle Bissell for 13 years. He was instrumental in forming the Eldredge Park Pony League. He loved his coaching days, and always welcomed the boys he coached into his home.
Earl is survived by his children, Hugh (Toni) Barkdull, Brady (Lyn) Barkdull, Greg (Sophia) Barkdull, Susan Williams and Kris Miner; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, including one baby girl and twins on the way. He is also survived by a sister, Beth Kidd, Bountiful, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Hugh Barkdull, killed in World War II, a brother, Forest Barkdull, and a sister, Harriet Wilkes.
The Barkdulls would like friends and family to join them for a celebration of Earl’s life on Saturday, January 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Earl’s residence, 943 Patsy Drive, Pocatello. A military service will be done at a later date due to the cold weather. It will be in the early spring.
The Barkdull children would like to express their thanks to the Idaho State Veterans Home, and to Peter and Sheryl of Hospice for their wonderful care they gave our father. You are all the best