Earnie C. Wetherington, 86 of Arkadelphia, died Saturday, June 27, 2009.  He was born in Gum Springs to Ira and Lizzie Buck Wetherington on Aug. 5, 1922.
He was a World War II Navy veteran, retired electrician, home builder, Arkadelphia volunteer firefighter and a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for over 50 years. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Earnie loved fishing, hunting, trapping and gardening. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Estes Wetherington, R. W. Wetherington; sisters, Vera Adcock, Eldie Suitor and Julie Hancock.
He is survived by his wife, Nell Childress Wetherington; daughters, Shelia (Ben) Blankenship of Benton, Sharis (Mike) Armstrong of Arkadelphia; grandchildren, Reb (Lynley) Blankenship, Beau (Rachel Savary) Blankenship, Kyle (Meredith)Armstrong, Alana Armstrong; great-grandchild, Walden Blankenship and brother, Elmer Wetherington of Arkadelphia.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 30, at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens with Dr. John Small officiating. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Mt. Olive Rd. Arkadelphia, Ark. 71923 or Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial, P. O. Box 56470, Little Rock, Ark. 72215. Online guest register is available at www.ruggleswilcox.com.