Phillip R. Earles, 71, of Princeton, passed away on Sunday, October 8, 2017 at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, IN.

He was born on August 31, 1946 in Oakland City, IN to the late, Cecil Albone and Violet Geneva (Ferguson) Earles.

Phil was an Eagle Scout. He served in the US Air Force from 1964 to 1967 serving in the Vietnam War. He was a lifetime member of the Air Force Association. He attended the Good Shephard United Methodist Church in Oakland City. He started as a volunteer with the Gibson Ambulance Service in the fall of 1976, then became employed by Gibson County Ambulance Service and retired in 2013 as an Advance EMT. He was a founding member of the Gibson County Rescue Service in 1981. Phil was a lifeguard at the Oakland City New Lake. He was a former volunteer fireman in Orange County, IN and Columbia Township in Oakland City. Phil was interested in military and land research and genealogy. He loved to travel and was a member of Friends of Ice Skating. He was in the process of writing a book about the changing borders of the state of Indiana by Indian Treaties.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Earles of Princeton; children, Theresa Gendren (Don) of Johnson, IN, Phillip Raymond Earles Jr. (Amy) of Indianapolis, IN, Michelle Taylor (Mike) of Martinsville, IN, Bill Knust (Robin) of Patoka and Trixie; 8 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and brothers, Darald W. Earles (Sue) of Owensboro, KY, David Earles (Oraletta) of Petersburg and Mitchell Earles of Princeton.

Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, October 12, 2017 at Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, officiated by Rev. Matt Malin. Burial will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Princeton. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday at Colvin Funeral Home. Military Graveside services by Retired Military Veterans.