Earl Louis Sanborn

Earl Louis Sanborn, age 96, of Higginsport, Ohio died Monday, May 14, 2007 at his residence. Mr. Sanborn was born on July 7, 1910 in Cincinnati, Ohio the son of the late Clarence and Dorthea (Mohrfield) Sanborn. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy Sanborn. He attended school through the sixth grade in Newport, Kentucky and then moved to Higginsport, Ohio where he graduated in 1928 from Higginsport High School. He then attended Louisiana State University from which he received a BS degree in Electrical Engineering in 1932 and a Masters degree in education in 1934. While attending LSU he played both varsity basketball and baseball. After graduation, Earl was employed by the Massie Township Board of Education as a teacher, athletic director and coach at Harveysburg High School for seven years. Mr. Sanborn was then employed by the Aircraft Radio Lab at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio where he worked until he enlisted in the US Navy in September 1942. He was commissioned a Lieutenant (jg). He served on active duty over four years and during this time he was promoted to Lieutenant and then Lieutenant Commander. Earl remained in the reserves and retired after serving twenty years serving as Commanding Officer of the W-2 Naval Reserve Company. When he went off active duty, he became a Civil Service Employee of the Department of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics and was the head of the Technical Services Section of the Avionics Division. They were responsible for the design, testing and installation of all electrical and electronic equipment in naval aircraft. He was instrumental in initiating the first avionics reliability testing program for production equipment and made significant contributions to the US Navy's leading position in aviation. He retired from the US Navy in 1970. Mr. Sanborn was also the owner of Higginsport Coal & Supply which started in 1949 and was one of the oldest businesses in Higginsport when it ended operation. He was a former mayor of Higginsport and was a member of the Higginsport Christian Church.

Mr. Sanborn is survived by his wife of nearly fifty-eight years - Betty (Lawson) Sanborn; two daughters - Sandra Germann of Higginsport, Ohio and Nancy Herron of Batavia, Ohio; two granddaughters - Christina and Kelly Germann and three grandsons - Nicholas, Lucas and Jared Herron.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 18, 2007 at the Higginsport Christian Church. Bill Arnold will officiate. Visitation will be from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Thursday evening at the Cahall Funeral Home in Georgetown, Ohio. Interment will be in the Confidence Cemetery in Georgetown, Ohio with veteran services by the Carey Bavis American Legion Post #180. If desired, memorials may be made to the Higginsport Promotional Committee, P.O. Box 5, Higginsport, Ohio 45131.

Condolence may be sent to the family at Sanbornfamily@Cahallfuneralhomes.com