Mr. Eldridge Gene Stirling of Harrisburg, departed this life Monday, February 1, 2016, at the Woodbriar Nursing Home in Harrisburg, at the age of 87. He was born December 24, 1928 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of the late Eldridge George Stirling and Ferroll Eanes Stirling. Gene was a retired Postal Service worker after 32 years of service in Ft. Worth, TX, where he was an active member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch #226, Ft. Worth, TX. He served as secretary/treasurer for 15 years, served as vice-president of Texas Association of Letter Carriers for 4 years, vice-president of Texas AFL-CIO for two years, served as chairman of the United Way Drive for the Post Office in Ft. Worth for 14 years, he was Labor Participation Chairman for United Way of Tarrant County, TX for 2 years and participated in the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular dystrophy for 12 years. He moved to Arkansas in 1991 and married his wife of 25 years, Dianne Foust Stirling, on January 11, 1991, and he continued his service to people here. He was a member of the Poinsett Masonic Lodge #184, and served as Worshipful Master in 1995. He received the Pillar of Solomon Award in 2004. He was a member of the Jonesboro York Rite Bodies of Jonesboro (Jonesboro Chapter #79, Gideon Council #65 and Ivanhoe Commandery #18). Some of his accomplishments and memberships include Allied Masonic Degrees of Jonesboro, Order of the High Priest - Little Rock, Sword and Trowel - Little Rock, Knights York Cross of Honour - Little Rock, Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine - Little Rock, Knights Mason - Arkansas and Tennessee, York Rite College of Arkansas, Royal Order of Scotland, Arkansas College of Societas Rosicriciana, Scottish Rite, Order of the Eastern Star, Order of the Amaranth, where he served as Worthy Grand Patron of Arkansas. He served as Grand Master of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Arkansas in 2002-2003. He was a charter member of the Harrisburg Lions Club. He was active with the Harrisburg Festival on the Ridge. He was the recipient of Outstanding Citizen Award from the Harrisburg Rotary Club. He was a member of the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce and he was a graduate of the Regional Leaders Program from ASU sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Korea and Japan and was a member of the Harrisburg First United Methodist Church. Although Gene was a very busy man, he made time for his favorite hobby, ceramics. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three children, twins, Virginia and Charles Stirling and Sandra Rosenquist, and two brothers, Alex T. Stirling and Bobby Jack Stirling. He is survived by his wife, Dianne Stirling of the home, two sons, Jack Stirling of Ft. Worth, TX and Jay Cooper of Harrisburg, AR, two daughters, Charlotte Parker of Palestine, TX and Theresa Strange of Ft. Worth, TX, one sister Sally Henson of Granbury, TX, one son-in-law, Louis Rosenquist of Granbury, TX, 16 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren. Funeral services are set for Saturday, February 6, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., at the Gregg-Weston Funeral Home Chapel in Harrisburg, with Rev Clark Atkins officiating. Masonic Rites will be given at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Harrisburg Memorial Park with Full Military Honors. Friends may visit at the funeral home Friday evening, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons, Allen Parker, Christopher Parker, Eric Stirling, Scott Stirling, Tony Saddler, and Bryan Neal. Honorary pallbearers will include all Masons and Mason Affliates.