Earl Asbury Claggett

Earl Asbury Claggett departed this life on Sunday, January 6, 2019 at home with his family by his side. Born to the late James and Mattie Claggett on April 6, 1929, Earl Claggett was reared and established primary residence in Ashton, Maryland until his transition into the Kingdom of Heaven on January 6, 2019. He attended a three-room elementary school in Sandy Spring, Maryland, Lincoln High School in Rockville, Maryland, and Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia. He also attended St. Paul Polytechnic Institute in Lawrenceville,

Virginia. While in college, he was drafted in the army. The recruiting sergeant offered him a list of schools he could attend while in service and he selected diesel school. During that time, the army was segregated and permitted one Black students per class. He was selected to join a squad of Hawaiians and two Canadian soldier s. He met Geneva while at Hampton but at that time had no idea that she would later become his wife for more than 50 years.

Earl Claggett would often speak of how fortunate he was to have acquired eight different jobs. The first was working for a company that made maps of countries from pictures taken from airplanes. Once discharged from the army due to injuries, he became a Physical Science Aide for the National Institutes of Health. To compensate for his hearing disability, the Veteran's Administration transfer red him to the Washington Navy Yard as an Apprentice Electroplater. Earl Claggett worked for the National Park as an Automobile and Diesel Mechanic for almost 20 years retiring in 1980. He then worked as a Teacher' s Aide instructing boys who were involved in the Cedar Program.  His last position was as a Supervisor for Montgomery County Ride-On Buses, from which he finally retired.

Earl Claggett was a man with a gentle spirit and giving heart. He possessed great humility and strength. His mechanical ingenuity allowed him to repair almost anything. With patience and nurturing spirit, he enjoyed gardening and investing in the stock market. You would often find him tending the yard, driving his tractor, tinkering in the garage or spending time on the computer even when he was very ill. Earl Claggett was a faithful member of Sharp Street Church most his life. He served on the Usher and Trustee Boards, transported vegetable for the food bank, participated in the annual picnic and was willing to help with any activity that Sharp Street Church would sponsor.

Earl Claggett was preceded in death by five sisters, Pearl Hill, Helen Smith, Dorothy Williams, Grace Wharton and Romaine Wilson, and one brother, James Claggett. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Geneva Claggett, two daughters, Lonita and Mary Claggett and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

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