Earl Albert Steiner, 90, of Oak Harbor, died suddenly Aug. 18, 2008, in Oak Harbor. He was a decorated World War II Navy veteran who served in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. He was a survivor of the sinking of the USS WASP in 1942. He later served as a chief petty officer on the USS Enterprise.

He was born May 26, 1918, in Roseland, N.J., to Albert and Annabelle LaBaugh Steiner. He was educated in local schools and graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in 1937. He attended Rutgers University and worked for Standard Oil before enlisting in the Navy in 1940.

He met the love of his life, Charlotte Hollenback, a school teacher from Montana, at a USO dance in the summer of 1943. They were married Dec. 27, 1943, in San Diego. After the war the couple made their first home in Roseland, N.J.

Earl worked for Federal Telephone and Radio. In 1951, they moved to a small farm in Connecticut where he worked as a furniture craftsman. In 1960, they moved to Seattle where he worked as an electrical designer for Boeing and later as an overhead engineer for Seattle City Light.

After he retired, Earl and Charlotte moved to their summer home on Camano Island where he pursued his passion for art and was well known in the local art community.

Earl and Charlotte traveled extensively in their retirement. They spent their winters in California, Texas, New Mexico, and most recently Ajo, Az. They met many friends on these winter travels. They traveled abroad to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.

In 2001, Earl and Charlotte moved to Oak Harbor where he enjoyed his friends at the Senior Center and his coffee group. Earl was an avid reader and had many hobbies and interests. He and Charlotte attended Whidbey Presbyterian Church.

Earl is survived by Charlotte his wife of 64 years; a sister-in-law, Margaret Todd of Mount Vernon; nieces Nancy Bray, Mary Ellen Schnur, Judiann McNulty, Catherine Kukowski, Charlotte Todd, Laurie Todd, and Bonnie Bowers; nephews John McNulty, Pat McNulty and Richard Todd, their families, and special friends Jack and Anne Dorsey of Camano Island.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Elizabeth and Virginia.

Services will be held Whidbey Presbyterian Church in Oak Harbor on Friday, Aug. 29, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to your favorite charity.