Earl Brooks Studstill

Earl Brooks Studstill, age 78, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away on March 9, 2026. Born on March 24, 1947, in Plant City, Florida, he spent most of his life in the Lakeland area.

Earl was a master mechanic whose deep knowledge and passion for all things automotive earned the respect of everyone who knew him. He retired from the Polk County School Board Transportation Department after many years of dedicated service maintaining the school bus fleet, helping ensure safe transportation for countless students in the community. His skills were shaped by a lifetime of hands-on experience, beginning in his grandfather’s junkyard as a boy, later serving in the United States Army as a Vietnam veteran working in the motor pool, and continuing through his love of building street rods.

Beyond his work, Earl was known for his remarkable creativity. He had a special talent for turning ordinary metal objects, spoons, scrap, and stray materials into unique works of art that delighted family and friends. He also enjoyed fishing, spending time near the water, and flying model airplanes, all of which reflected his inventive spirit and appreciation for craftsmanship.

Earl shared 58 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Frieda Studstill, who passed away in 2024. He is survived by his son, Travis Studstill; his grandson, Eric Studstill; his brother, Paul Studstill; and his sisters, Raynell Henderson and her husband Dennis, Donna Baxter and her husband Jeff, Janet Delamielleure, and Bobbie Jean Hirsh. He will be remembered for his mechanical brilliance, artistic eye, love of family, and his kind heart toward both people and animals.