H. Earl Boatman

H. Earl Boatman, 88 of Rockford, passed away Friday, February 24 at Blount Memorial Hospital. He was a member of the 134th Air National Guard that was deployed to Ramstein, Germany in 1961, during the Berlin Crisis.  Earl retired from Delta Air Lines in 1999 with 31

years of service. He liked to say, “I have been retired longer than I worked.” Earl became a world traveler visiting all the continents except Antarctica. After his marriage to Nancy, they traveled all of the United States. He loved working in the yard, helping grandkids and neighbor kids with school projects and tinkering around in the garage with his grandson, tearing things up and putting them back together until his health prevented him from doing what he loved. Preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Viola Boatman; in-laws, Clay and Cleo Wilson. Survived by his wife, Nancy Wilson Boatman; son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Teresa Wilson; granddaughters, Trista Wilson and spouse, Benjamin Smith, Kelsey Wilson; grandson, Trent Wilson; great-grandchildren, Aria, Jackson, and Lincoln; sister, Sarah Boatman. The family would like to thank Dr. Mark Green, Blount Memorial ER staff, 5 north nurses, and ICU for all of their kindness. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, Jill Rollins, Memorial Chair, 2330 Chesterfield Drive, Maryville, TN 37803 or Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 100 S Rankin Rd, Alcoa, TN 37701. Family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 PM Saturday, March 4, 2023 with a Memorial Service following at Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Greg Williamson officiating. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com