Earl Marion Coulter was born on September 29, 1921 although the doctor wrote 9/28 on his birth certificate by mistake. His parents, Daisy (Tucker) and Earl Coulter Sr. lived in Mound City, IL.

Mr. Coulter grew up swimming in the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, which meet and flow together a few miles south of Mound City, at Cairo IL. He and his friends would swim out as the massive steamboats churned by so they could ride the waves. He later worked on one of the boats hauling cargo to St. Louis.

Enlisting in the Army at age 19, Mr. Coulter served as a paratrooper completing 37 jumps. During the war he drove a troop transport boat throughout the South Pacific.

He married Ann Reynolds from Memphis in 1951. They had one daughter, Rebecca (Becky), and settled in Murfreesboro after his retirement from Sewart Air Force base. Mr. Coulter then worked for the US Post Office until he retired in 1986. He and Ann then traveled to Europe, gardened, and danced with the Tennessee Walkers Square Dance club every week.

Preceded in death by his father Earl Coulter, Sr., mother Daisy (Tucker); stepmother Irma, half-brother Ron C. Moore; half-brother Jack Coulter, half-sister Bobbie Baniak, wife Ann (Reynolds).

Survivors include daughter Rebecca Coulter, son-in-law Edward Winters; sister-in-law Reba R. Monts; cousin Rudele Pamplin;  nieces Cheryl R. Edmonds, Robin R. Hardy, Jan R. Smith; nephews Rholand (Ron) Rhodes Jr., Vernon (Skip) Reynolds Jr., Wesley Reynolds; great nieces Nancy R. Caukins, Casey Edmonds Bradley, Emily Reynolds; great nephews Jim Reynolds, Cory Edmonds, Luke Reynolds, Andrew Pinney, Amanda Smith-Wesson, and many great great nieces and nephews.

Donations in memory of Earl Coulter can be made to Army Emergency Relief: AER Headquarters, 2530 Crystal Drive, Suite 13161, 13th Floor, Arlington, VA 22202.

The family would like to thank the staff from Sunnington Assisted Living and Caris Hospice for their kindness and care.

A celebration of Mr. Coulter's life will take place in Murfreesboro later this summer.