Earl Leroy Rankin

Earl LeRoy Rankin, 92, of Harleysville, Pennsylvania passed away on February 13, 2021 after a short illness. A longtime resident of Lansdale, Lee retired from Nationwide Insurance in 1992 after a 38-year career. His wife Mary Jane Rankin died in 2009.

Born in Pittsburgh, Lee was the second son of William John and Kathryn Mae Rankin. Lee was the kind of man who'd seen a lot and done a lot. After graduating from Reading High School he worked as a radio announcer and salesman before enlisting in the the US Marine Corps. During the Korean War he joined the US Army and attended intelligence school in Baltimore, graduating as a Special Agent assigned to the 109th detachment of the Counter Intelligence Corps.

After the Army Lee joined Nationwide Insurance as a claim adjuster, rising through the ranks to District Manager and then Division Manager responsible for all field claims operations in eastern Pennsylvania. Committed to lifelong learning and industry service, he earned the CPCU and RHU designations, was a past president of the Pennsylvania Claims Association, the Lancaster Claims Association and Conestoga Toastmasters, former board member of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Assigned Claims Plan, and past Chairman of the Pennsylvania Professional Liability Joint Underwriting Association.
Lee was a 32nd degree Mason, a 64-year member of Masonic Lodge 43 in Lancaster, and a member of the Harrisburg Consistory and Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg.

Predeceased by wife Mary Jane and older brother William, he is survived by children Bonnie and Scott, daughter-in-law Diane, grandchildren Taylor and Kaitlyn, his younger brother Jack, and Norma Lugar, his beloved companion of the past nine years.

Lee was an avid reader and traveler, having visited all 50 states and many European countries. A kind man of honor and high principles, and mentor to many, he was fiercely loyal to his family and his country.
Private arrangements will be coordinated by Huff & Lakjer, Lansdale. In lieu of flowers the family invites contributions to Grand View Hospice whose staff cared for Lee with compassion and diligence during his final weeks.