Earl Franklin Klear, a native of New Brighton and longtime resident of Beaver Falls, passed away Monday following an extended illness. He was living at Worthington at Adams assisted living in Seven Fields at the time of his death.

Mr. Klear was a 1941 graduate of New Brighton High School, where he played basketball. Shortly after his graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served with the Marine Air Wing Squadron 1 and 2.

Mr. Klear married Nora Mary Isaac on June 3, 1944, in San Diego, Calif., before shipping out for overseas service in the South Pacific.

After returning from his service in World War II, Mr. Klear took a position with Home Protective Savings & Loan in New Brighton, working his way from teller to bank president before its merger with People's Home Savings Bank in Beaver Falls. He retired from that institution and served on its board of directors for a number of years.

Mr. Klear was active in community affairs and was a member of the local Masonic Lodge and the Shriners. He was an officer in the New Brighton American Legion and was a trustee for the First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Falls.

He was an avid gardener and cigar aficionado.

In addition to his wife of 66 years, Mr. Klear is survived by three children, Barbara (Mrs. Henry) Keller of Butler, Raymond (Janice) Klear of Chicago, Ill., and Janis (Mrs. Richard) Johnson of Savannah, Ga. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, one great-grandson and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Thelma Klear; four sisters, Betty Setting, Gloria Stone, Elsie Maceross and Mary Ferris; and a brother, Raymond.

<B>KLEAR</B> — A limited visitation for the family and friends of Earl Franklin Klear, who died Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 19, at the <B>Hill & Kunselman Funeral Home </B>in Beaver Falls, with a memorial service to follow. The Beaver County Special Unit will meet at 11:45 a.m. Friday at the funeral home to conduct military honors.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to First Presbyterian Church-Trustee General Fund, 1103 Eighth Ave., Beaver Falls, PA 15010.Information also is available at www.hillandkunselman.com.