Earl Bedford Daff

EARL BEDFORD DAFF

20 Oct 1926 – 28 September 2022

Earl Bedford Daff, 95, of Gambrills, Maryland (formerly Martinsburg, W. Va) passed away peacefully on September 28, 2022. He was born on 20 October 1926 to the late Emory H. Daff and Oma L. Daff in Rainelle, West Virginia.

Earl attended high school in Rainelle. As a young man he worked at the Meadow Bridge Lumber Company (logging firm) alongside his father. He enlisted in the United States Army in Dec 1945 and served in the 831st Aviation Engineering Division in Germany during World War II.  In October 1950, he was once again called to serve his country attached to the 101st Airborne in South Korea during the Korean War.

Earl is the beloved husband of the late Bessie J. (Ward) Daff; devoted father of two loving daughters, Brenda E. January of Severna Park, MD and Patricia K. Bush (Michael) of Pasadena, MD; 4 cherished grandchildren, Stephanie L. January, Aaron M. Pauley, Tyler C. Bush and Kyle M. (Margaret) Bush; and a great-grandchild, Brantley A.B. Chase.

Earl enjoyed attending Bluegrass Festivals and listening to Bluegrass music, camping, attending annual family reunions and spending time with family. He was a member of the local VFW and a member of Operation Welcome Home Maryland -- an organization who greets service members from all branches of the military who are returning from overseas assignments through Baltimore Washington International Airport.  He loved volunteering and anxiously awaited the flights to arrive so he could express his appreciation for their service to our great country.

He was a former congregant of Independent Bible Church while living in Martinsburg.

Earl received many honors during his life. Medals include World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal, Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, a congratulatory letter from Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and many Challenge Coins. Earl was celebrated as an “Unsung Hero” in 2010 by the Journal Newspaper in Martinsburg, and a Military Spotlight in the Severna Park Voice Newspaper in 2020,

Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Bess, in 2016, his parents, brothers, (Willard A. Nutter, Harold (Jim) L. Daff and sisters Launa B. (Nutter) Holliday, Mary M. (Daff) Crookshanks.

The family will receive friends at the Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., 1411 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 from 11:30 to 1:30 PM. Interment immediately following at the Crownsville Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy, Pasadena, Maryland 21122.

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