Earl Stanley Dean entered heaven in the early morning of August 19, 2022, in Columbia, South Carolina. With a cancer diagnosis of the gallbladder three weeks prior to his passing, Earl still had a joyful heart and joking spirit until the end.

He is survived by his beloved wife Brenda, two daughters Jennifer Moore (Parker) and Nicole Medina (Monte), a grandson Alex Abeyta, his sister Linda Anderson (Carl), nieces Janet Price (Keith) and Kristina Bringle (Bryan) and multiple great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by beloved mother Elsie Atkinson Dean, who passed away March of 2022, and his father Felton Dennis Dean in 1981.

Born January 23, 1951, into a military family, he spent his early years in Germany before moving back to the US, where he completed high school at Lower Richland. He later began his own military career serving in the Air Force starting in 1970 and later attained the rank of Master Sergeant. He served at Shaw Air Force Base and bases throughout England and Korea before finishing his career at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in 1991. While in the Air Force, he was completing his Bachelor of Arts from Saint Leo College in 1992. Earl continued to serve the community as a Highway Patrol Telecommunicator with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, assisting many officers and the public. He was a patriot and loved to volunteer his time to serve others.

As a Graphoanalyst, he was a member of the IGAS (International Graphoanalysis Society), which is a professional organization that trains handwriting analysts, performs continuing research in the field of Graphoanalysis, and serves in an advisory capacity of organized Chapters. Earl was named the 2021 Graphoanalyst of the Year. He began his career in 1973 and served as the President of the South Carolina Chapter where he presented seminars for libraries, law enforcement, and developed virtual study groups for the IGAS.
Another love of Earl's was being an Amateur Radio Operator. The Columbia Amateur Radio Club meant the world to him. Earl was certified at the highest level and proudly held various positions for the club as Vice President, President, and as a Director. With these credentials, Earl served as the Emergency Coordinator for Richland County. Most recently he held the position of District Emergency Coordinator for the ARRL (American Radio Relay League). He was also a member of AUXCOM (Auxiliary Communications with SC Emergency Operations Center.)

Earl loved music and played the trumpet in high school and baritone in the Spring Valley Baptist orchestra, where he was a member. He was a volunteer with the Columbia Canine Group and was also a Public Notary.

The celebration of Earl's life will be held on Friday, August 26, 2022, at Shives Funeral Home located at 7600 Trenholm Road Extension, Columbia SC 29223. Visitation will begin at 11am with the funeral service at 12 o'clock noon. A burial with military honors will follow at Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 2 o'clock.

Memorials may be made in Earl's memory to Spring Valley Baptist Church at 91 Polo Road, Columbia, SC 29223.