NEWPORT NEWS — Retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Earl Peter Oldenburg, 86, went to the Lord Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, joining his beloved and loyal wife, Helen Oldenburg, who preceded him in death in March of 2018. Both passed away peacefully in their sleep.
Earl was born Nov. 24, 1934, to Hans Peter Oldenburg and Rosemund Harriott in South Dakota. Earl attended high school in Montana and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy. His first wartime conflict being the Korean War, he had impeccable military bearing, serving honorably for 26 years to the rank of Senior Chief. During his service, some of the commendations and awards received include the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and 6 service stripes.
On Aug. 20, 1964, he married Helen Oldenburg (Pamplina), former secretary to RADM Morrison (Commander Naval Forces Marianas). Together, Earl and Helen stood in faith and love together over the next 52 years of military moves, two Vietnam tours, and another career at the Newport News Shipyard as Quality Control (1979 to 1995), the city in which they settled. He also graduated from Thomas Nelson Community College.
Earl was an active member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Yorktown. It was a 45-year relationship that supported him in his time of active service in war and peace and during his retirement years. He had been around the world, and it was also the reason he returned to the area to spend the rest of his life. The community was always very special to him.
Remaining to cherish his memory are his daughter, Maritess Oldenburg, graduate of Barat College of DePaul University; grandsons, Maxwell Hibbard, graduate of Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania; Hans Hibbard, a graduate of Chestnut Hill College and Rowen University of New Jersey; Zachary Hibbard, a graduate of Bucks County College; and Sam Hibbard, following his grandpa’s example of service, enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps and also graduated from Drexel University. He is also survived by his great-grandson, Evan Matthew Hibbard (4), all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He is also survived by his loved and cherished daughter, Cheryl, and her husband, Jim Linker, of Hampton. Cheryl is a graduate of Christopher Newport University and has a career in banking at Langley Federal Credit Union. Cheryl’s loyalty and love was present and true to the end. Earl’s grandson, Hunter Linker, is a graduate of Old Dominion University and has a career with the National Aerospace and Space Administration. Grandson Forrest Linker is serving proudly in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and is stationed with the 192nd Maintenance Group at Langley Air Force Base. Jim is a graduate of the NASA Co-op Program and Thomas Nelson Community College.
Earl’s memory is carried on with Earl’s son, Mark, and his wife, Teresa Oldenburg of Newport News Virginia. Mark is a former member of the Virginia Army National Guard 2nd Brigade 1/183 Infantry, 29th Infantry Division, he is a graduate of the IBEW 1340 electrical apprenticeship and Pellissippi State Technical College. His beloved granddaughter, Autumn S. Oldenburg, is a certified nurses assistant fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic at Riverside Hospital, and granddaughter, Madeline Oldenburg, is a pharmacy technician with Rite Aid pharmacies and an employee of Anheuser-Busch. Granddaughters, Grace Oldenburg (17), and Elizabeth Oldenburg (12), also remain to continue on. Teresa Oldenburg is a licensed certified nurses assistant who faithfully coordinated his care to the end. He is also survived by his great-grandson, Cai Alexander Foster (3).
He always spoke fondly of his many nieces and nephews and asked about them whenever he spoke to his brothers and sisters. He enjoyed the regular calls from his niece, Teresa Gibson, (Oldenburg); and sister-in-law, Audrey Oldenburg. Earl loved all of you very much.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hans Oldenburg, and his wife, Myrtle; mother, Rosemund Baldry (Harriott); brothers, Kalvin Oldenburg and Hans Oldenburg; sister, Beverly Oldenburg; and loyal and loving wife, Helen.
Visitation and funeral services with full Military Honors will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 23.
