Earl Wayne Stroup

April 24, 2021

Earl Wayne Stroup, 80, of Midland, TX passed away on April 24, 2021, at his home in Midland, Texas. Earl was born February 14, 1941, to Earl and Polly Stroup and grew up in Burlington, Iowa. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1959. He completed boot camp in Oceanside, California at Camp Pendleton and went on to begin a 24-year career with the Marines. Earl did 3 tours in the Vietnam War, earning him several medals, including 2 Purple Hearts. He temporarily retired from the USMC as an E-7 Gunnery Sergeant while he'd been stationed in Midland, Texas in 1979 and ran the Toys for Tots program for several years. He then joined the Midland Police Department for about 6 years before moving over to the Midland County Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Gary Painter. Earl and Gary had also served together in the Marines during Vietnam. Earl married Christene Powers on November 1, 1989. He retired from MCSO in February of 2011 as Patrol Lieutenant. Earl is survived by his wife, Chris; four daughters, Evelyn Yoxtheimer (Rob) of Midfield, Suzie Lewis (Ruben) of Van Vleck, Teresa Ricketts of Lubbock, and Megan Stroup (Kenneth) of Midland; seven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by one grandson, Kevin Yoxtheimer, and his parents, Earl Newlon and Evelyn Pauline (Dowell) Stroup. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 29, 2021, from 6-8 PM at American Heritage Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 11:00 AM with burial immediately following. All arrangements are entrusted to American Heritage Cemetery Funeral Home Crematory.