ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 10, 1996 TAG: 9602120034
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
Salem resident Charlie Eary was a big, tough ex-Marine who liked nothing better than sitting with a cup of coffee in his hand and shooting the bull with friends.
After Eary died early Friday morning, one of those friends called to say he ought to get recognition for all the good his talk sessions had done.
"No one knows how many fellow Vietnam veterans and recovering alcoholics Charlie helped," said Jim Mullins of Knoxville, Tenn. Mullins used to live in the Roanoke Valley and met Eary in a group therapy session for alcoholics when Eary worked at Lewis-Gale Psychiatric Center.
Lora Eary Muncy said the family didn't realize how many people her father had "turned around" until he became ill and people he'd helped started visiting him.
In addition to Muncy, the family includes Darlene Eary, his wife of 38 years, and sons Edward Eary of Roanoke and Daniel Eary of Salem.
Until Eary became disabled from the lung cancer he had battled since December 1993, he worked as a counselor at Hegira House for substance abusers. Just two weeks ago, he held an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in his Salem home for some residents of Hegira, Muncy said.
Eary, who had just turned 60, retired from the Marine Corps in 1974. He served four tours in Vietnam and received four purple hearts, his family said.
He'd had his own battles with drugs and alcohol, and he used that experience to encourage others, said Kevin Lynch, a fellow counselor at Hegira House.
"Eary gave tough love," Lynch said.
LENGTH: Short : 38 linesby CNB