Ernest Edgar Chandler

Ernest E. Chandler, 90, died June 24, 2006, in Fort Pierce, Florida.He was born in Sylacauga, Alabama, and moved to Fort Pierce in 1947, coming from Belmont, NC.E.E. was a WWII veteran serving in the US Navy aboard the USS Hannibal for 4 years and the remainder of his service on the Aircraft Carrier White Plains as a Chief Petty Officer and Warrant Officer as a Machinists Mate 1st Class. After his service, he moved to Fort Pierce where he had been stationed for awhile during the war. He initially worked as a machinist at the Taylor and Munnell Machine Shop on Okeechobee Road while serving in the Florida National Guard. Soon thereafter, he went to work for the US Postal Service as a letter carrier, moving up through the ranks until retiring as the Manager of Vehicle Maintenance. During his service at the Post Office, he decided to start a bee keeping business, selling honey to commercial vendors. In his quest for a more lucrative enterprise, he began offering equipment rental services to local contractors by sub-leasing the equipment through a company based in Lakeland, FL. Not long afterward, Mr. Chandler purchased the inventory and became the first independent rental company on the Treasure Coast. After retiring from the Postal Service, E.E. expanded his rental business to Okeechobee, built industrial warehouses and invested in other properties. All of his business pursuits are in operation today under the name of Chandler Equipment Co., Inc. He was a life-long member of the Masons becoming a 32nd degree Mason and was of the Methodist faith.Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Pauline E. Chandler; son and daughter-in-law, John T. and Lynne Chandler, son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Robyn Chandler, son and daughter-in-law, Danny and Kathryn Chandler; daughter and son-in-law, Patti and Dwight Gray; grandchildren, Melissa Bendel, Matthew Chandler, Jeff Chandler, Tracy Coggins, Kevin Gray, Amanda Dillon and Chris Hutchinson and 6 great-grandchildren.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Treasure Coast Hospices, 1201 S. E. Indian Street, Stuart, Florida 34997.