Earl 'The Pearl' Nowlin

Earl Nowlin, 85, was born on October 10, 1929 in Maybeury, West Virginia to the late Charles Thomas and Mertie Crite Nowlin. He passed from this world on Saturday, June 20, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio just weeks after accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior. His baptism was the completion of a lifelong calling. After serving as a corporal in the United States Army in Korea he was given an honorable discharge in January of 1955. At the time of his retirement from the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in 1993 he was the longest serving African American bus driver for the organization. Earl was preceded in death by sisters, Christine Nowlin and Erma Nowlin Hairston; a brother, Eugene Nowlin, Sr; and his childhood sweetheart and loving wife, Lovella Hairston Nowlin. This union lasted 37 years before her departure in 1991. Earl was a lover of new cars, blues music, Ohio State football, the Cleveland Browns, and sharing “snorts” with family and friends. His favorite song was any Christmas song by Lou Rawls and “Green Onions” by Booker T. the MG’s. Earl leaves to cherish his memories three daughters, Cathy (Curtiss) Williams, Cheryl Rhodes, Connie (Alan) Pitts; two sons, Carlton “Boo” Nowlin and Earl “Buddy” Nowlin, Jr.; twelve grandchildren Christine Williams, Curtiss Williams II,  Lindsey Rhodes, Rianne Pitts, Zoe Pitts, Carletta Callahan , Sarah Callahan, Emani Nowlin, Giovanni Nowlin, Treyvian Nowlin, Zariah Nowlin, Phoenix Nowlin; great grandson  Houston Laudermilk all of Columbus, Ohio; sister Bernice Perkins of Youngstown Ohio; special brother-in-laws Russell (Macie) Hairston, Sylvester (Kay) Hairston and a host of loving nieces, nephews and friends. A special thanks to Ohio Health Hospice for their loving care and support.