Earnest C. “Skeeter” Pledger, 93, of Cave Spring, died Saturday evening, February 13, 2016, at his residence following an extended illness. Mr. Pledger was born in Floyd County September 5, 1922, a son of the late H. S. Pledger and the late Julia Fuqua Pledger. Mr. Pledger was a veteran of WWII, having served in the Navy as a Seaman First Class on the battleship USS Saugus. After the war, Mr. Pledger worked for the Pepperell Manufacturing Company in Lindale, and went on to work at the Georgia School for the Deaf as the Laundry Manager, retiring from there after 30 years of service. Mr. Pledger was a member of the First Baptist Church of Cave Spring. Mr. Pledger was married to the former Catherine Owens on May 31, 1941, and was preceded in death by her January 13, 2002. Mr. Pledger was preceded in death by a grand-daughter, Mrs. Lisa Smith Means on July 4, 2014; by four brothers, Grover Pledger, David Pledger, Carl Pledger, and Jake Pledger; and by five sisters, Mrs. Inez Agan, Mrs. Idell Wheeler, Mrs. Cleo Robinson, Mrs. Mary Doegg, and Mrs. Annie Mae Wheeler. Survivors include his children, Mrs. Nancy Terry and her husband Bobby of Gaylesville, AL and Dennis Pledger of Cave Spring. A grandson, Justin (J.R.) Smith of Gaylesville, and a great-grandson, Ripley Means of Brandon, MS, and a number of nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services for Mr. Pledger were held Tuesday afternoon, Febraury 16, 2016 at 3:00 P.M. at the Cave Spring Cemetery with Rev. Dale Byars officiating. The Honor Guard of the Shanklin-Attaway Post 5 of the American Legion provided Military Honors. Pallbearers included Brent Wheeler, Russ Franklin, Sammy Pointer, Justin Smith, Jessie Hambrick, and Roger Doegg. The family received friends at John House’s Cave Spring Chapel Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 P.M. until the funeral hour. At other hours they were at the residence. After the funeral, the family gathered at the home of his niece, Glenda Wheeler and her husband Jack for a meal and a time of sharing.

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