Earl Andrew Hanson

EARL ANDREW HANSON of Ocoee, Florida, passed away on November 4, 2013. He was born in Fairhaven, Minnesota, on April 20, 1921, to the late Andrew Hanson and Pearl Dorman Hanson. Earl was preceded in death by sisters Myrtle Oster and Ruby Midtling.

After graduating from Litchfield (MN) High School in 1940 he worked in a bank before going to California to work in the aircraft industry. He entered the Army Air Forces and attended Navigation School. He did not see combat duty but was assigned to Navigation Instructor duty. He was honorably discharged from active duty in November 1945 at Langley Field, Virginia.

Earl graduated from Pepperdine University and taught one year in the Los Angeles school system. He then began his career in private industry as an engineer in the aerospace and medical technology industries until his retirement in 1986 from CD Medical, Inc, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.

He is survived by his wife Dorothea (Dodie), his beloved children (by his first wife Joyce Dollerschell Hanson) Earl (Nina Todd) Hanson, Susan (Heath) Coleman and Eric Hanson; grandson Sean Walsh and granddaughter Meredith (Jordan) Smith and step-daughter Jane (Jeff) Jones and their daughter Ellory Jones. He is also survived by nieces Roselea (Howard) Nellis and Adele (Ken) Floren.

As an accomplished pilot and homebuilder, he actively built and repaired airplanes. He and his daughter produced and supplied many of the ribs, firewalls and other formed parts to Sonex Aircraft until the parts were taken in-house for production. He also produced and supplied a different type rib to several other companies.

Earl was a faithful member of the People of Faith Lutheran Church in Winter Garden, Florida. As an affirmation of his faith he was building a Zenith aircraft for donation to Missionary Aviation until his health began to fail. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete the project, but he was able to donate everything except the fuselage, propeller and engine.

There will be a memorial service  at People of Faith Lutheran Church, located at 220 Windermere Road, Winter Garden, Florida  on November 29, 2013 at 10:30 am.  Earl chose to donate his body for medical education and research purposes to the Anatomical Board of the State of Florida which takes up to two years to be completed. At that time his cremains will be spread over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Fisher House, which provides shelter and support to serving military and veterans’ families during a medical crisis, at www.fisherhouse.org. Arrangements are being handled by Dobbs Funeral Home (info@dobbsfuneralhome.com).