Bruce Walter Earling

The family of Bruce Walter Earling announces his passing on Tuesday January 6, 2026 at the age of 79 years old in Clearwater Florida. He was best known for his generosity and service to his family and community, his witty and sarcastic sense of humor, and patriotic love of country. Some of our happiest memories are of those times when he would open his home to family, friends, and co-workers for the holidays or serve breakfast to all the Deputies after a long night working the midnight shift. He was considered the life of the party; you could always find him manning the bar or cutting a rug on the dance floor.

Bruce was born in Mount Holly, NJ on September 25, 1946, the son of Harold and Jayne Earling (Albertson). He grew up in Wrightstown, NJ and graduated from Northern Burlington County Regional High School. Following high school, he volunteered at the local Fire Department and enlisted in the US Navy on January 19, 1966. Stationed at NAS Miramar CA, he served on the USS Kitty Hawk. In 1967, during Vietnam, Bruce was stationed at the US Naval Station in Keflavik, Iceland and later at Cecil Field Naval Air Command in Jacksonville, Florida. Attached to air attack squadron 174, he deployed with the USS Roosevelt.

Bruce joined the Pinellas County Florida Sheriff's Office in 1973 and graduated from Saint Leo University in May 1977 with a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice. He would later retire from the Sheriff's office with the rank of Captain in 1998 after 25 years of service. Bruce went on to serve the community of Gulfport as a Code Enforcer for the city and finally retired after 17 years of service.

In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother David Earling and is survived by his partner Susan Hammock and former spouse, Donna Earling of whom he shared three children with; son, Brett Earling and his wife Sandra of Clearwater; daughter, Monique Andrews of Crystal River; and daughter, Shawnee Earling of Wellford SC; nephew, David Earling and his wife Maria of Titusville NJ; nieces, Annette Earling-Diefer and her husband David of Titusville NJ and Diana Earling-Butcavage and her husband David of Pennington NJ; along with twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren with another on the way.

Service with military honors will be held on February 9, 2026 at 11 AM at Bay Pines National Cemetery 10000 Bay Pines Blvd, Bay Pines, FL 33744. Reception to follow at 8133 128th Street, Seminole FL 33776.