Earline Junker

Earline Cox Junker, 84, went to be with Jesus on Wednesday September 5 th 2018 in her daughter Alma's home in Kingwood, Texas after being placed in hospice care for cancer.

Born April 30 th 1934 in Trenton, Kentucky to William Edgar Cox and Grace Belle Gilliam Cox. As a young farm girl she loved her pony, swimming in the creek and basketball. She did not enjoy working in the tobacco fields and plucking chickens! Earline was a tomboy at heart and always wished she had become a P.E. teacher.

She graduated from Trenton High School in 1951 and attended Bethel College from 1951-1953 in Hopkinsville, KY. She attended college with her twin sister Pauline, her sister Martha, and her best friend Bettye Sims. This is where she developed the nickname Rip after Rip Van Winkle. This nickname came from her habit of sleeping between classes, as she enjoyed dancing at the N.C.O. club at night with the young enlisted men from Ft. Campbell. As a young woman she loved tennis, softball, and of course dancing.

Earline was married to Roland Arthur Junker from 1957 to 1978. They had two daughters, Alma and Joy, whom she raised in Hampton, Virginia. As a young mother she loved her family, her church, her neighbors, and many friends. Her girls have wonderful memories of her teaching them to play tennis, doing craft projects, giving them sewing lessons, camping trips and church activities.

Earline was employed most of her life in civil service. She did clerical and accounting work for the Department of the Army and retired in the early 90s from James River Reserve Fleet in Newport News, Virginia.

Earline moved to Kingwood, Texas in the mid 90's to be near her daughter Alma and her grandchildren Mark (Jamie), Sarah Grace, Mary and David. The last 17 years of her life, Earline resided in Clarksville, Tennessee where she could be close to her brothers Henry, Edward, Frank and sister Anna - all of whom are now deceased. She lived the last 10 years there with her daughter Joy, and youngest grandchildren Ryan and April.

Earline enjoyed many things during her life, especially her family and friends. She was always involved in her local church. As a grandmother, Earline was a second mother. With a heart of concern, she was always ready to help her grandchildren when they needed her. In her late years, she enjoyed Bible study, traveling to visit family, visiting with neighbors, mowing the lawn, working puzzles and sitting with April's yorkie, Princess, on her lap while watching the Hallmark channel.

Earline will be lovingly remembered by her daughters Alma Louise Bond and Joy Marie Jones, by her grandchildren Mark James Bond, Sarah Grace Bond, Mary Jeannette Bond, David Harlan Bond, Ryan Timothy Jones, and April Nicole Jones, by her sister Martha Bailey and twin sister Pauline Greear, and by countless wonderful nieces and nephews.

Her ashes will be laid to rest under the shade tree in the family cemetery on the farm of her best friend Bettye Sims Adams, in Hopkinsville, KY.