Joseph Gittings, 76, owned vending machine business...

Joseph Gittings, 76, owned vending machine business

Joseph Earl Gittings, owner of a vending machine business who was known as Earl the Pearl for his thick head of silver hair, died Monday of heart failure at his Northeast Baltimore home. He was 76.

"People gave him the nickname of `Earl the Pearl,' `Big Earl' and the `Duke of Earl,' because of his silver hair," said his companion of many years, Doris Veneziano.

The owner of Earl's Amusements, a vending machine business now operated by his three sons, Mr. Gittings was born and raised in Dundalk. He graduated from Baltimore County public schools and served in the Coast Guard during World War II.

After the war, he worked for Eastern Stainless Steel and later became an expert pinball mechanic. Before establishing his own vending machine business, he had been the owner of a liquor store, restaurant and marina complex in the town of Indian Head in Charles County.

Mr. Gittings enjoyed daily strolls through Little Italy and often dined at the now-closed Babucci Restaurant on Eastern Avenue.

He was married to Esta Johnson, who died in 1943; his second wife, Patricia Weaver, died in the early 1980s.

Services were held Thursday.

He is survived by three sons, Gregory Gittings of Havre de Grace, Joseph Gittings of Abingdon and Mark Gittings of Elkton; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Leonard C. Krebs Sr., 81, businessman, fighter pilot

Leonard C. Krebs Sr., owner of an East Baltimore decal company and a World War II aviator who flew 35 combat missions over Europe, died Sept. 24 of prostate cancer at Fort Howard Veterans Hospital. He was 81.

In 1960, Mr. Krebs established AD-D-Cal, a company that manufactures decals used for advertising. He was semi-retired from the business at the time of his death.

From 1951 until opening the decal company, Mr. Krebs owned Krebs' Sporting Goods in the 2000 block of E. Monument St.

Born and raised on Collington Avenue, Mr. Krebs was a 1937 graduate of City College. He was working for United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co. at the time of his enlistment in the Aviation Cadets Program in 1941.

After washing out of the class that year, he worked for the Glenn L. Martin Co. in Middle River before re-enlisting in the Army Air Forces in 1943.

Trained as a navigator, he joined the 8th Air Force in England in 1944 and flew 35 combat missions aboard the Buddy Buddy, a Flying Fortress. His missions included five sorties during the Normandy invasion.

On July 7, 1944, after his plane was hit by enemy fire over Germany, Mr. Krebs broke a leg while bailing out of the stricken plane but managed to elude German ground forces. After recuperating in an Army hospital, he returned to duty in time to participate in the Battle of the Bulge.

Mr. Krebs remained in the Air Force Reserve and was discharged with the rank of major in 1972. His decorations included the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Mr. Krebs was a former commander of American Legion Post No. 183 in Parkville. He was also president of the Veteran's Organization for the Hearing Impaired, a nonprofit organization, and a group of 8th Air Force combat veterans.

He enjoyed fishing, crabbing and vacationing at a second home in Bethany Beach, Del.

His marriages to the former Polly Moheng and Kate Wilhelmsen ended in divorce.

A memorial service was held Friday.

He is survived by his wife of 14 years, the former Sharon Campbell; a son, Leonard C. Krebs Jr. of Lake Grove, N.Y.; two daughters, Alicia Krebs Carroll of Nesconset, N.Y., and Donna Marie Krebs of Baltimore; a stepson, Michael Campbell of Baltimore; a stepdaughter, Tracy Campbell Slomba of Baltimore; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Dr. Frank C. Jerbi, 84, expert in prosthodontics

Dr. Frank C. Jerbi, a former chairman of the Department of Removable Prosthodontics at the University of Maryland Dental School, died of cancer Friday at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. He was 84.

The longtime Phoenix resident began work at the University of Maryland Dental School in 1965, where he later served as head of the department of removable prosthodontics, a branch of dentistry devoted to replacing missing teeth with bridges or dentures. He retired in 1982.

Dr. Jerbi was the author of numerous articles and lectured widely on prosthodontics. He also contributed to dental textbooks.

He was a member of the honorary societies Omicron Kappa Upsilon and Alpha Sigma Nu. He was a diplomate, or certified specialist, with the American Board of Prosthodontics and the American College of Prosthodontics.

Born and raised in East Brooklyn, Ill., he graduated from high school there. He earned his bachelor's degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1935, and his degree in dentistry from the university's school of dentistry in 1939. He also did postgraduate work in dentistry at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

He joined the Army Dental Corps in 1940 and served in service commands and hospitals the Middle East. After the war, he was deputy director of dental services and commander of regional dental activity at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.

He also served in Germany from 1955 to 1958 and was discharged with the rank of colonel in 1965. His decorations included the Soldiers Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Legion of Merit.

Dr. Jerbi enjoyed painting in oils and golfing. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 8736. He was a communicant of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Long Green Pike, Hydes, where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, the former Adelaide Grimaldi; two sons, Louis Jerbi of White Marsh and Thomas Jerbi of Lutherville; a brother, John Jerbi of Chino Hills, Calif.; and four grandchildren.