Earl Maxie Wainwright, 91, of Lake City went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at Haven Hospice Suwannee Valley Care Center in Lake City. A native of Penney Farms, FL, he was the son of the late Newnan Crews and Leila Irene Wainwright. He joined the Florida National Guard in 1952 and served there until March 1953 when he joined the U.S. Army serving in Korea. In March 1955, he returned to the active Florida National Guard as an SFC, working as a fulltime technician, transferring to the 153rd Engineer Company in Lake City, FL. He held that rank until his discharge in 1977 to accept the appointment as Warrant Officer One with the 153rd Engineer Company. At the time of his retirement, he had attained Chief Warrant Three and was serving with the 711th Maintenance Company in Crystal River, FL. His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was the only thing more important to Earl than his family. He enjoyed making memories with all his family and was always willing to help any of them in any way he could. He was slow to anger, kind, faithful and quick to laugh. He smiled more out of photos than in them. His interests included gardening, camping, growing red cedar Christmas trees, carpentry, golf, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and especially the great grandchildren. He loved to say that if he had known how much fun the grandchildren would be, he would have had them first. He was a member of Gateway Baptist Church. Earl is preceded in death by his wife of almost 72 years, Nora P. Wainwright; his siblings, Doris Underwood (Ab), Quanita Glover White (Bill and Clarence), Alan Wainwright (Elzie), Merle Walker (Euel), Chip Wainwright (Geneva), Hazel Ryan (Tom), and Don Wainwright (Louise, Mary and Sharon).

Earl is survived by his son, Randall Wainwright (Rhonda); daughter, Teresa Norris (T.D.); brother, Grady Wainwright; grandchildren, Whitney Mowry (Dale), Randi Williams (Corey), Becky Wetherington (Don), great grandchildren, Adisynn and Harper Mowry, Rylee and Bristol Williams, Hannah Plueger (Wesley), Megan Lally (Joe); great-great grandchildren, Brody and Lawson Plueger and Evelyn Lally.

Funeral services for Earl will be conducted on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 3:00 P.M. at the Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Drue Thompson and Pastor Steve Thompson officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be held from 2:00-3:00 P.M. (1 hour before service) at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Haven Hospice Suwannee Valley Care Center, 6037 W. US Hwy 90, Lake City, FL 32055. Please sign the online guest book at www.gatewayforestlawn.com. Arrangements are under the direction and care of GATEWAY-FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME, 3596 S. US HWY 441, Lake City, FL, 32025, 386-752-1954.

Haven Hospice Suwannee Valley Care Center
6037 W. US Hwy 90, Lake City FL 32055
Tel: 1-386-752-9191
Email: devmail@BeYourHaven.org
Web: http://beyourhaven.org/