Earl E. Sappenfield Jr. was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina, on May 23,1927 to Earl E. Sappenfield Sr. and Stella Sappenfield. He entered into eternal rest on February 16, 2024 in Jacksonville Florida, surrounded by family and friends.
He is survived by his daughter Marsha Pruitt and her husband Lee, one grand son Marty Pruitt and his girlfriend Beth, three great grand daughters Trinity Shuman, Paisley Pruitt and Marti Paige Pruitt.
Earl was preceded in death by his beautiful wife Peggy of 55 years, brothers Paul and Charlie Sappenfield, sisters Lizzie Maines, Mabel Wall, Margaret Leagans, Violet Kimmer, and Earline Burton, and a very special friend Jackie Brissenden.
Earl joined the Navy in May 1944 and fought in the Asia-Pacific theater. He was on the USS Pensacola heavy cruiser in the battle for Okinawa. He was honorably discharged from the navy on July 4, 1946 in Shelton, Virginia and returned to North Carolina. After the war he went to work for Haines and that is where he met Peggy Prince the love of his life. They married July 1,1955. In 1959 they had Marsha.
In the late 50‘s they moved to Florida. He worked at Sea Land Service for more than 25 years and was a member of the Long Shoreman Union. Earl had been working for NASCAR since the late 50‘s part time, a career that lasted until 1994. He began officiating basketball for S.A.B.O. in 1959 and served as an official and commissioner until 2006. Earl was elected to the F.H.S.A.A. hall of fame on June 15,2000 in Tampa Florida. He was elected to The Living Legends of Auto racing in Daytona Beach on February 10, 2010. In 2021 Earl received some more awards, he was elected to Florida First Coast Softball Hall of Fame, then on December 4, 2021 he was inducted into the Jacksonville Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday February 20th from 5:00- 8:00 pm at Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home, 850 St. Johns Bluff Rd. The funeral service will be Wednesday February 21st at 11:00 am same location.
