Earl Wayne Bailey, Sr., 75, of Halifax, died Thursday, February 21, 2013 at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh.

Earl was a native of Roper, NC, the son of the late Earl Franklin Bailey and Ellen Williams Bailey. He was retired from the U. S. Navy, serving as Petty Officer First Class, and was a Vietnam veteran. Earl was with the recovery team when astronaut John Glenn landed in the Atlantic Ocean after orbiting the Earth three times on February 20, 1962.

He is survived by his daughter, Janet Thornton and her husband, Wade, Sr. of Saint Joseph, LA; two sons, Earl Wayne Bailey, Jr. and his wife, Michele, of Cary, NC and Brian Bailey and his wife, Mindy, of Boston, MA; five grandchildren, Wade Thornton, Jr., Jessica Thornton, Marcus Thornton, Amanda Thornton, and Eowyn Bailey; six great-grandchildren; his sister, Jean Nelms and her husband, James, of Halifax; his brother, Lewis Bailey and his wife, Judy, of Felton, GA; and several nieces and nephews.

Askew Funeral & Cremation Services in Roanoke Rapids is handling the arrangements, where the family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 26, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Graveside services with full military honors will be held on Wednesday, February 27, at 11 a.m. at Pineview Cemetery in Rocky Mount with Rev. Randy Martin officiating.