Earl B. Green, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and friend passed from this life April 29, 2014 surrounded by loved ones.
He was born August 15, 1931 in Walker County, Alabama to Troy Greene and Fannie Nix Greene.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his In-laws Arnold Lee Parrish and Mildred Wanner Parrish. There are no words to describe the true love and utter devotion between him and Arnelle. She caught his eye when she was 14 and he was 22. Their love never wavered. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 53 years Arnelle Parrish Green, Children, Angela (Frank) Herring, Randy (Cindy) Green, Anita (Kerry) Mashburn, Tamela Green, Kristi (Shawn) Watson, 11 grandchildren, Jeremy, Lindsey, Haley, Hannah, Dylan, Devan, Emma, Frankie, Robert, Lindsay, and Jordan, and 8 great grandchildren. Sister, Helen (Gene) Bamberg, Brothers, Ellard (Elsie) Greene, Milford (Mildred) Greene, John W (Mickey) Greene, Very Special Sister in Law Winona Spires and Judy Tipton, numerous nieces and nephews with special recognition to nephews Mike Perry and Don Greene.
Visitation will be Thursday 6-8pm at Greenview Funeral Home. The funeral will be Friday at 2:00 in the chapel with burial to follow in Greenview Memorial Park. Military Honors will be provided by the US Navy. Pallbearers will be Kerry Mashburn, Shawn Watson, Denny Weaver, John Summerhill, Randy Bassham, and Jordan Hooks.
He was a man whose word was his bond and his handshake meant something. Honest. Dreamer. Artist.
Saved by his precious Lord, he was a faithful member of Plainview Church of Christ.
A Navy veteran, he proudly served his Nation with honor and distinction aboard the USS Hollister DD788 (Destroyer) during the Korean War from 1949-51.
During the 50’s and 60’s he was a truck driver. On a long-haul trip, he and his friend Carl Montgomery wrote and composed the song “Six Days on the Road” on a napkin. It was recorded by Dave Dudley in the early 60’s and made it to the #2 spot on the charts. It has been recorded more than 300 times by various artists, and received multiple awards including an achievement award for “more than 3 million air plays”. He and his brother also penned “Give Me 40 Acres” as well as many more. His work is displayed in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Over a span of 30+ years he was a performer, and in the 50’s he shared the stage with the likes of Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Dave Dudley, Ralph Emmery, Brother Dave, Conway Twitty, Webb Pierce, Ernie Ashworth, Ernest Tubb, String Bean, Tom T. Hall, Bufford Pusser and Stepping Wolfe, even appearing on The Grand Ole Opry in 1959.
One of his final requests was for everyone to know “It’s been a wonderful life. Thanks for the memories, this ain’t no big step for a big stepper.”
