Earl Nowlin

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 Hariston Nowlin. This union lasted 37 years before her departure in 1991. 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; 12 grandchildren and a great-grandson, all of Columbus, Ohio; sister, Bernice Perkins of Youngstown Ohio; special brothers-in-law, Russell (Macie) Hariston, Sylvester (Kay) Hariston; and a host of loving nieces, nephews and friends. A special thanks to Ohio Health Hospice for their loving care and support. Funeral Service will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2015 at the chapel at DIEHL-WHITTAKER FUNERAL SERVICE, 720 E. Long St., Columbus, Ohio, where family will receive friends at 1 p.m. until the time of service. Pastor Erick Miles officiating. Interment at Green Lawn Cemetery. To sign their online memory book, please visit www.diehl-whittaker.com/obits