W. Wear

Obituary of W. Earl Wear

W. EARL WEAR Architect W. Earl Wear died at his Aptos home unexpectedly on Friday, March 26, 2011. Earl was born on January 2, 1925 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He served in the Canadian Royal Air Force as a bombardier navigator in WW II, flying the all-wood Mosquito Bomber from 1942-1946. Upon the conclusion of the war he returned to Canada and earned his Master's Degree in Architecture from the University of Toronto. Following graduation Earl moved to Boston to work for the architectural firm Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch & Abbott (H.H Richardson's successor firm) where he worked on the restoration of Richardson's Trinity Church vestibule among other projects. Mr. Wear moved to Long Beach, California in 1952. He became a resident of the Topanga-Malibu area in 1954 where he was married and his daughter, Hannah, was born and raised. In his work Earl followed the principals of Frank Lloyd Wright's Organic Architecture and during his time in the Los Angeles area he designed and built nine original residences. In 1986, he moved to Aptos, California where he enjoyed long walks in Nisene-Marks State Park and along Seacliff beach. Mr. Wear was an advocate for the environment and supported many notable environmental organizations. He was especially fond of the redwood forests of California and gave generously to support them. While in Aptos, he also donated his time to design a pavilion for a local school. Earl is survived by his daughter Hannah Wear (husband, Kevin J. Parkhurst) and granddaughter Pearl K. Parkhurst and his sisters Marcia Blackburn (Wear) and Annetta Shumacher (Wear), and brothers Richard Edward Wear & Fredrick Robert Wear. At his request, no services will be held. Arrangements are under the direction of Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel. Contributions in his memory may be made to Save the Redwoods League for the establishment of a memorial redwood grove in California, to be named the William Earl Wear Grove. Please contact his daughter, Hannah Wear, if you wish to coordinate your contribution.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel
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