Born in 1935 in the Gibbstown section of Greenwich Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, to Lewis Reade and Alice Freas (Richie) Earle. Both of Earle's parents were enthusiastic about the outdoors and supportive of their daughter's early interests in the natural world. The family moved to the western coast of Florida in Earle's childhood.[3] Earle received an associate degree from St. Petersburg Jr. College (1952), a bachelor of science degree from Florida State University (1954), and a master of science (1955) and doctorate of phycology (1966) from Duke University.