Earl M. Bolling

Obituary of Earl M. Bolling

January 1, 1946 – January 24, 2026

Earl Maurice Bolling, age 80, of Blackwood, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on January 24, 2026. Born on January 1, 1946, as the first baby born on New Year's Day in Brooklyn, New York. Earl's arrival marked the beginning of a life defined by quiet strength, unwavering loyalty, and acts of love that spoke louder than words.

Family

Earl was the beloved son of Earl J. Bolling and Willie Mae Stanley, both of whom preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Charles Renee Curtis.

Education and Military Service

Earl graduated from Dobbins Technical High School in Philadelphia in 1964. He honorably served in the Air Force from 1966 to 1970, participating in the Vietnam War. While in the military, Earl took on the role of a cook at various Air Force bases. Feeding people felt natural to him, as it reflected his care for others. He received an honorable discharge and was later recognized for his service with the Camden County Military Service Medal.

Professional Life

After his military service, Earl built a distinguished career as a skilled machinist and modelmaker, spanning more than three decades. He worked at several top firms, including Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Tact Air, Durametallic Corporation, and Cytometrics Inc., always providing reliability and quality work.

In 1985, Earl became a Research and Development Machinist at Temple University, proving to be an invaluable asset to the university community.

In the College of Arts and Sciences Machine Shop, Earl made parts and performed experiments for different university departments, including Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Geology. His technical expertise, combined with his willingness to mentor students and share his mechanical knowledge, earned him widespread respect.

He gained a reputation for his meticulous work and strong support for students in their research. His unique personality, successful demeanor, and dedication to quality earned him recognition with the prestigious Excel Award. Earl moved to Drexel University in 1994 after Temple and served there until his retirement in 2015.

A Life Well Lived

Earl wasn't loud about his love-he was present. He showed up. He kept his word. He made it a point to connect with family and hardly ever missed a gathering. He held people down with a loyalty that everyone around him could see and feel. Those who knew him will remember his signature response to life's absurdities: "yeah right"-a phrase he said with perfect skepticism and humor.

Elaine and Earl maintained a close friendship over the years, enjoying special lunches and dinners together. At events, everyone familiar with Earl and Elaine's chemistry would gather to watch them mimic Esther and Fred Sanford. During Earl's last visit with Elaine, he joked, "If I put your face in dough, I could make gorilla cookies." This playful remark showed their special bond and the humor in their friendship.

As a girl dad and girl granddad, Earl had a special bond with Elena, Roberta, Kahliyah, and Zaliyah that everyone could see. He also shared a deep and steady connection with his grandson, Kahlil Wyche II. One of his simple pleasures was taking Zaliyah out for ice cream-quiet moments that meant the world to him. With Kahliyah, it was the haircuts-their time to talk about what was new in life and check up on one another. By the end of each visit, he'd leave with a fresh cut and a lighter heart.

Earl cherished IHOP birthday breakfasts with his son-in-love, Kahlil Wyche Sr. His love also extended to his grand-dogs – Bella, Lilly, Scout, Bear, and Jaxon – and his cat, Daphne, who provided him joy and companionship.

With Elena, he shared countless daddy-daughter dates at Applebee's over cheeseburgers and laughter. With Roberta, it was all about Outback dinners. He would text her when he craved a steak, and she'd bring his favorite steak and potato, so they could sit and chat about life, the kids, and his grandkids. When Roberta got her first firearm, they spent hours going over safety, with Earl showcasing his collection. His eyes lit up when they talked about guns. They planned to go to the range together, but his health declined before they could make it happen.

Earl, raised in the Baptist tradition, renewed his commitment to Christ in 2013 through his son-in-love, Kahlil Wyche. He passionately followed the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies and had an enduring love for boxing. His favorite pastimes included cooking (a talent honed in the Air Force and perfected over decades), fast cars, and firearms. He was always ready for a crab boil, a BBQ, and good company.

Earl passed away shortly after his family celebrated his suprised 80th birthday on January 11, 2026, a joyous event they will cherish forever.

Survived By

Earl was a loving father to his daughters Elena Wyche (Kahlil Wyche Sr.) and Roberta Harbison (engaged to Justin), as well as his adopted son Tearle Foster Sr. He treasured being a grandfather to Kahlil Wyche II, Raekwon Johnson, Tearle "TJ" Foster, Brandon Cordery (engaged to Tina), Kahliyah Wyche (engaged to Mike), Allysa McCray, Dominique Hendricks (Justin) and Terayea Foster. His great-granddaughters Zaliyah Wyche, Piper Hendricks, and Zoe Hendricks brought immeasurable joy to his life.

He is survived by his former wife Elaine Bolling, a special niece Renee Royster, and sisters-in-love Lecetta "Dede" Brown, Theresa Royster, Karen Clifford (Jay), Angela Bailey (John), and Joyce Patterson. His brothers-in-love are Joseph Richardson (Debbie), Gregory Wyche (Faith), and Pete Brown. Lifelong friends Clifford Streater and Thelma Troutt, childhood friend Diana Monroe, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends will also miss him.

A Man of Few Words, Profound Impact

For a man of few words, Earl's acts of love and loyalty toward his family and friends spoke volumes. He didn't need to say much-his presence, his consistency, and his devotion said it all. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

Services

Since Earl was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan, the family is asking that you please wear hunter green or your favorite Eagles gear. Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation & Funeral on Friday, February 6, 2026 from 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the Falco, Caruso & Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Road, where a Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown at 1:30 PM. The repast for family and friends will be at The Youth Homestead Youth Association 4771 Willow Ave, Pennsauken, NJ 08109 at 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to fundraise.kidneyfund.org/earlbolling