David J. Eardley, age 91, a lifelong resident of Chardon, passed away on March 24, 2023, at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center.
He was born in Cleveland on Jan. 17, 1932, to Wilbur and Rose (nee Dragonette) Eardley.
Survivors include his son Thomas (MaryEllen), of Loveland, Ohio; son James (Christy, deceased), of Benbrook, Texas; son Joseph (Kelley), of Bath, Ohio; son Lawrence (Rose) Eardley, of College Place, Wash.; daughter Machelle Williams, of Dublin, Ohio; son John (Joyce Ann), of Waynesville, Ohio; daughter Pamela Osler (Joe, deceased); and son Brian Eardley, of Chardon; grandchildren Bradley (Katherine) Eardley [great-grandchildren Lanna, Elena, Antonio], of Andover, Mass.; Brianna (Roger) Eardley Pryor [great-grandchild Isabel], of Santa Rosa, Calif.; Alissa (Jason) Cossman [great-grandchild Felicity], of Bellingham, Wash.; Jennifer (Matt) Davis [great-grandchild Mackenzie], of Fort Worth, Texas; Danielle (Steve) Berris [great-grandchildren Ethan, Logan], of Sagamore Hills, Ohio; Spencer (Allison) [great-grandchildren Emory, Avi], of Solon; Elise Williams (Brandon Hurst), of Lyndhurst; Scott Eardley (Steven Evans), of Dayton, Ohio; Zachary Eardley, of Oakwood, Ohio; Stuart (Sojin) Eardley [great-grandchild Luna]; Haleigh Osler (James Buckingham), of Clearwater, Fla.; and John Osler, of Wickliffe.
Dave attended the University of Notre Dame, in South Bend, Ind., where he was a ‘Double-Domer,’ earning both his undergraduate business and law degrees.
He was a longtime practicing attorney in Chardon, for 66 years, where he and his wife, Charlotte, raised their (baseball team) nine children.
Dave was an amazing man and a wonderful provider for his family. He and Charlotte devoted their entire lives to caring for all of their children and grandchildren.
He was an attorney and counselor at law, but mostly a counselor and consoler for his clients. In addition to serving the legal needs of Geauga County, Dave was a humble, gentle and generous soul, having a profound impact on his Chardon community. He served on the Chardon School Board and made time for everyone he would come in contact with.
As a lifetime parishioner of St. Mary Catholic Church, he was a Daily Mass Lector, served on the Finance Council, active participant in the Lady of Fatima Holy Hour, ministry leader of Eucharistic adoration, and Rosary Crusader.
Carrying on the legacy of his Mother, Rose, Dave and Charlotte were founders of Lake-Geauga Birthright, an organization offering support for pregnant women in need.
In recognition for his years of service for the Boy Scouts of America, Dave received the prestigious Silver Beaver Award.
Dave will be sorely missed by his family and community.
The Eardley Family would like to thank the entire community for all of your love and support. The community truly rallied around our family during this difficult time. We cherish all of your prayers and consideration for our Dad/Grandpa. For now, we hug and say goodbye to our Father, Grandfather and Friend, until we meet up with him again in the Golden Rays of God’s Universal Light.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte (nee Bink) Eardley; and son David J. Eardley Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. April 1, 2023, at Church of St. Mary, 401 North St., Chardon, with Rev. Scott Goodfellow officiating.
A visitation for family and friends will be from 1-3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. on March 31, 2023, at DeJohn Funeral Home, 12811 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland.
Grandson of H. Marc and Frances (nee Hoch) Burr, who were longtime friends of Dave and Char, Marc F. “Burrly” Burr is handling the arrangements. Donations are suggested to The Church of St. Mary in Chardon.
