CHESAPEAKE -- Earl Sanders Waddell, 78, passed away peacefully, after a long illness, at his home surrounded by his family on December 1, 2023. He was born in Suffolk, Virginia to the late Earl S. and Beatrice Aquino Waddell.

Earl was a practicing Catholic and active member of St. Mary Church in Bowers Hill. He was a lifelong printer and retired as the Norfolk Naval Base's Director of Defense Automated Printing Services (DAPS). Earl served decades as a volunteer for both the Deep Creek Ruritan Club and the ABNB Federal Credit Union Board of Directors. He enjoyed traveling, playing golf, and attending the numerous sporting events of his 7 grandchildren.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 54 years, Margaret "Peggy" Cowling Waddell; sons Earl Jr., David and his wife Wendy, and Neal and his wife Melissa; 7 grandchildren: Tyler, Thomas, Ashton, Maggie, Ryan, Landon and Sawyer; his sister, Cecelia Harris and her husband Ron; his brother, James Waddell and his wife Jane; sister-in-law Betty Cowling; brother-in-law Ray Cowling and his wife Kate; brother-in-law Bryan Cowling and his wife Debbie; and 8 nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday, December 6th, at Foster Funeral Home, 1926 High St., Portsmouth. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated 11:00 AM Thursday, December 7th, at St. Paul Catholic Church, 522 High St., Portsmouth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either St. Mary Catholic Church Restoration and Maintenance Fund, c/o 3501 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth, VA 23703, or the Deep Creek Ruritan Club, PO Box 6934, Chesapeake, VA 23323 (Memo: In Memory of Earl Waddell). Please visit BWFosterFuneralHome.com to leave a condolence for the family.