In 1944 Earl met and married Ethelyn Ruth Miller and they moved to Alaska in May of 1949. Earl worked as a carpenter on Elmendorf Air Force Base and the Alaska Native Hospital. In 1952 he joined the Anchorage Police Department. Earl attended the FBI Academy in Washington, D.C. and eventually retired in 1974 as Chief of Police in Anchorage, Alaska. After retiring, Earl went back to work for Nana Security on the North Slope and retired again in 1991.
“Earl was a dedicated family man who was extremely generous and was greatly loved. His family was dear to him and he always attended to and provided for us. He was full of integrity and died with dignity. Earl was talented in many ways and his hobbies included woodcarving and building,” his family said.
Earl and Ruth had seven children, two of whom preceded him in death, Susan Lee Hibpshman in 1948 and William Earl Hibpshman, who died in 1968 in Vietnam. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Lowe Hibpshman.
Earl is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ethelyn Ruth Hibpshman of Nikiski; children, Mary Ellen Goodman of Virginia Beach, Va., Robert D. Hibpshman of Nikiski, Thomas G. Hibpshman of Sterling, James E. Hibpshman of Homer, and Charlene M. Johnson (Cheri Hibpshman) of Soldotna; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and four living siblings, of Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in Earl’s honor to Heritage Place, “Sitka Rose” Fund, 232 Rockwell Ave. Soldotna, Alaska 99669.
Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
Earl was born Nov. 24, 1924, to Ethel and Lowe Hibpshman in Blackwell, Okla. He had seven brothers and sisters. Earl served his country in World War II, in the Philippines and the re-building of Japan in 1944 and 1945.
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