Earle S. Deats, 93, of Pohatcong Twp., died Friday, May 20, 2005 in the Masonic Home of New Jersey, Burlington, NJ.

He worked at Ingersoll-Rand, Cameron Pump Division in Phillipsburg for 43 years where he was a toolmaker before retiring in 1974.

Born April 7, 1912 in Phillipsburg, he was a son of the late Samuel and Annie F. Cole Deats.

He graduated Easton High School in 1930.

He was a member of the First United Church of Christ, Easton.

He was a member of Phillipsburg Lodge 52, Free and Accepted Masons, where he once served as Tyler and was a former member of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He was a long-time bowler at Warren Lanes, was a charter member of the Huntington Fire Company in Pohatcong Twp. and was a founder of the Pohatcong Twp. Playground League.

His wife of fifty-six years, the former Gertrude L. O'Conner died in 1995.

Survivors include a son, Robert E. and his wife Ann of Cinnaminson, NJ; daughter Kathleen L. Oettel and her husband Paul of Chesapeake, VA; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Two half-brothers, Walter Wallace and Joseph Deats and two half-sisters, Susan Wallace and Elizabeth Deats, all died earlier.

Masonic services will begin 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Noto-Wynkoop Funeral Home, 289 S. Main St., Phillipsburg, followed by funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in St. James Lutheran Cemetery, Greenwich Twp., NJ. Online condolences are welcomed at www.noto-wynkoop.com.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the First U.C.C. Church, 27 N 3rd St, Easton, PA 18042.