Earl Victor Exum

Exum, Earl Victor, 97, of Burton, went to be with the Lord on January 1, 2026 following a brief illness.

Earl was born in Helena, AR on September 1, 1928 to Arthur and Goldie Exum. He grew up during the Depression era in Paragould, AR, raised by a single mother, and learned the importance of family and a very strong work ethic at an early age, which became one of the hallmarks of his life. He started working at the age of 8 as a shoeshine, cleaning the boots of farmers in the saloons who came into town on farm-to-market days, and during the next several years of his childhood and teen years also worked delivering 12-25 pound blocks of ice by horse, carriage and tongs, as a paper boy, and short-order cook. 

In 1946, shortly before his 18th birthday, he was approached by recruiters for the GM factories who were canvassing the southern and mid-west states for workers to move north and work in the auto plants. His first job was working on the dock at the Buick Parts Assembly plant. His starting pay was $40 a week and he felt he had struck it rich. 

Earl was drafted to serve in the Army in November 1950. He was based in Korea from November 1951-1952, first in south central Korea and later on the eastern coast in the Army Aviation Engineers unit, building and maintaining air strips for military fighter planes, Army supply planes, and also driving trucks. Following his discharge from the Army, he went to work at the Tank Plant in Grand Blanc. He was put through their welding school and worked as a welder for 4 years before going into tool and dye, eventually becoming a journeyman tool and dye maker at the Fisher Body Plant in Grand Blanc. He retired in 1991 after working in the auto industry for 42 years. He was part of UAW Local #1292.

Earl married Lucille Morris Williams before entering the Army and became stepfather to her sons Jackie and Craig.  They welcomed Linda in 1954.  After Lucille died when Linda was 4 years old, Earl raised her on his own for several years. In 1963, Earl married Sarah Betty Sue Gosnell, a nurse at McLaren Hospital, and she adopted Linda who was nearly 9 years old. Together, they had son Victor, who died in infancy. Subsequently, they also had Mark, Jessieca, Tim and Angela. They were married for 58 years until Betty's death in 2021. 

Family, faith and work defined Earl.  He was a good husband, provider, and father. He took the family on annual camping trips to Mesick every summer or to South Carolina to visit family, and later he and Betty took trips to Texas.  He adored his grandchildren and kept stashes of bubble gum and popsicles for them. Church was an important cornerstone of family life. He was a member of South Flint Church of the Nazarene in Burton for over 50 years until its closure, serving as an usher. He later attended Davison Missionary Church. He was skilled at carpentry, electrical, plumbing and mechanical. He worked every spring with his wife to put in a large garden and enjoyed its bounty year-round. Earl did not understand “down time” or relaxing. He did not have hobbies, but his hands were rarely idle, and there was always something to fix or build. He enjoyed retiree breakfasts, Grisham and western novels, and watching Gunsmoke.

Following retirement, he created a new routine of mall walking every day for almost 30 years with fellow retirees. Due to Betty’s arthritis, they did not venture far from home in their later years, but they remained devoted to each other and enjoyed each other’s company.

Earl is survived by children Linda Murdaugh, Burton; Mark Exum, Grand Blanc; Jessieca (Bob) Bostetter, Coppell, TX; Tim (Lisa) Exum, Lake Worth, FL; Angela (Matt) Lashley, Davison; grandchildren Nathan, Andrew, Jacob (Heidy), Joshua, Elijah (Morgan), Benjamin, Amelia, Rachel, and Noelle; great-grandchildren Jacob, Logan, Alyssa and Ethan; brothers-in-law James Gosnell of Flint, Steve (Gail) Gosnell of Winter Haven, FL, and Jack Peek of Columbia SC; sisters-in-law Betty Lee Gosnell of Greer, SC and Jean Gosnell of Fruitland Park, FL, as well as several nephews and nieces.  He was preceded in death by Betty, his beloved wife of 58 years, mother Goldie Fraser, brother Jack, infant brother Arthur; father- and mother-in-law, Roy and Jessie Gosnell, infant son Victor, sisters-in-law Dorothy Foster, Peggy Peek, and Faye Gosnell; brothers-in-law Woodrow Foster, Roy Gosnell and Dick Gosnell, son-in-law Joel Murdaugh, nephew Matt Gosnell, and niece Becky Greer.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Kelly Brushaber (Compassus), Nurse Gladys (Henry Ford Health), and the staff at Wellbridge who collectively provided exceptional care to Earl during his final days and support to the family. 

Visitation will take place on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 at Swartz Funeral Home in Grand Blanc from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be held immediately following visitation at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  A private graveside service will be held for the family on Monday, Jan. 5.