We are deeply saddened to share with you the passing of retired Brother Earl Moon on May 13th, 2024.
Earl started working with us here at American Airlines back in 1996 and retired from the position of Aviation Maintenance Technician in 2020.
Please keep the Moon family in your thoughts and prayers.
Earl’s Obituary
Earl Leon Moon was born in Rupert, Idaho on Tuesday, April 18,1950 to Donald Ash Moon and Kathryn Lois McConnell Moon. His parents moved their family, Earl, and sister, Shirley, to Barnsdall, Oklahoma where his brother Bobby Joe Moon was born in 1951. Later, the family of five moved to Tahlequah, Oklahoma where the brothers grew up and played in the hills of Steely Hollow. They lived in a small house on ten acres.
Earl graduated from Tahlequah High School in 1968. He then Joined the Air Force on April 17,1969 and trained to become a mechanic on C130 airplanes. In 1974, he became a C130 instructor, training recruits in Little Rock, Arkansas for 10 years. Prior to Little Rock, he was a C130 Crew Chief stationed overseas in the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand. His C130 flew missions to Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Indonesia, Bangladesh,
Australia, Germany, and Vietnam. Earl and his crew were in charge of maintaining the aircraft and cargo. During the Vietnam Fall, innocent Vietnamese families were evacuated to safety by C130 cargo planes. When he returned home, Altus Air Force Base was his final duty station. Earl retired from the Air Force in January 1990 as a Master Sergeant. As a civilian, people would thank him for his service, he would reply,
“your welcome, I would do it again.” Although he was not a pilot in the military, Earl earned his private pilot’s license and enjoyed flying for many years in a small Cessna152.
After retiring from the Air Force, Earl taught at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. He enrolled in Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and earned an Associates degree in Technical Training in Automotive Upholstery. Upon graduation, he was asked to be an instructor. In 1996, Earl was hired by American Airlines as a mechanic. There he met some of his students from Spartan. Earl retired from American Airlines after 25 years of service.
Earl entered his heavenly home on Monday, May 13, 2024, at the age of 74. He reunited with his parents, Don and Kathryn, sister, Shirley, and brother, Bobby all from Tahlequah; and brother, James Moon from California.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Carolyn Ann Moon; daughter, Kimberly Bowling and granddaughter, Sarah Bowling, both from Englewood Ohio; step-daughter, Lori Ann Belin her husband, James Scott Belin, grandson, James Scott Belin Jr., and granddaughter, Anna Leigh Belin, all from Houston, Texas; and brother, Orville Moon, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Earl enjoyed traveling with Carolyn, working in his workshop, landscaping, square dance calling, performing magic tricks, riding his motorcycle and walking his little dog, Sophie.
On Monday, May 20, 2024 there will be a visitation at 11:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. both at Add’Vantage Funeral Service Chapel. Reverend Scott Belin officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00 p.m. Monday at Tahlequah City Cemetery, Tahlequah, Oklahoma.