Search resumed in national park

By Tony Gonzalez

Published: October 2, 2008

The search for a missing Staunton man resumed this morning by 9 a.m. in Shenandoah National Park.

Park officials said no clues were found Wednesday as more than 40 people searched for Earl F. Funk, 50, of Staunton, who was last seen by an acquaintance Monday afternoon.

“It’s very tough searching,“ said Karen Beck-Herzog, public affairs officer with the park.

Funk was to believed to be with a friend searching for ginseng on private property near Walnut Level Road in the Cedar Mountain area Monday. The pair separated and set a time and place to meet before dark, but Funk did not arrive, Beck-Herzog said.

Funk has an undetermined medical condition which may limit his mobility, she said.

As many as eight friends looked for Funk Monday night and Tuesday morning before calling the Albemarle Police Department, who joined the search.

The Albemarle Sheriff’s joined Tuesday afternoon.

A search team of about 40 people moved into Shenandoah National Park Wednesday.

Park employees, along with the sheriff’s office, police department and a Virginia State Police K-9 unit continue to search a rough terrain with the assistance of 10 GPS units recently obtained by a $3,000 Shenandoah National Park Trust grant.

A request for trained volunteers and additional dog teams has been sent to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
Beck-Herzog explained park policy requires volunteers be trained in search techniques, especially in consideration of the treacherous terrain. Efforts do not depend on sheer number of volunteers, but on technique, Beck-Herzog said.

The last large-scale rescue effort in the park occurred in April, lasting 11 days, she said. Smaller searches are common, but are usually concluded quickly.

Large searches were conducted in January and at the end of October in 2007. Prior to those searches, the park had not conducted such an effort since 2003.

Funk is described as a male with brown hair and green eyes, 5’ 8” tall who weighs approximately 145 pounds. It is believed that he is wearing dark pants and a light shirt. Anyone with any information about Funk is asked to call 1-800-732-0911.