CAPE CORAL, Florida
Gerald Arthur Ernest, 85, passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, in Cape Coral, Florida. He was a resident of Cape Coral and a former longtime resident of Whiteland.
He was born on July 16, 1930, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Jared C. and Mildred L. (Frazier) Ernest.
He married Merry J. (Ripley) Ernest on Jan. 28, 1950. She preceded him in passing.
Gerald is survived by two sons, Michael (Suzanne) Ernest and Jeffrey (Kathy) Ernest. Also surviving are brothers, Robert, Jared, Ronald and Ed Ernest, sisters, Mary (Ernest) Belle and Margaret (Ernest) Hensler; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in passing by his parents; wife of 62 years, Merry; brother, William Ernest and sisters, Sharon Garrison and Carolyn Crabtree.
He was a 1949 graduate of West Liberty High School in West Virginia.
He was a National Guardsman.
Gerald was a maintenance engineer at Arvin Industries, retiring after several years of dedicated service.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Cape Coral.
A celebration of Gerald’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Flinn and Maguire Funeral Home, 2898 N. Morton St. (U.S. 31 North) in Franklin. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Washington Park East Cemetery in Indianapolis.
Online condolences may be received at flinnmaguire.net.
