This is the poem written by Dennis Rodgers, Earl’s youngest son, and read at his funeral.

WHAT IS LOVE
what is love
love is a man after having his firstborn
son die in his arms say to his young wife
we've lost our son but we can have another
but God lost his only son


what is love
love is a man leaving his young family
for a week at a time so they could have
food on the table
catching only weekend glimpses of his
sons growing up


what is love
love is a son going through a
divorce and not being lectured when
he comes home but as he leaves
and looks in his rear view mirror he
sees his father crying because he
is hurting for his son


what is love love a father and his son because they
were so much alike often butted heads
instead of holding hands saying their
final goodbyes
and the father using all
his strength to tell his son I love you


what is love
love is a husband waking his wife
with a nudge saying i just wanted
to hold your hand and telling her
we've had a lot of good years together


love is
family and friends gathering to
remember a man who loved his
friends loved his family and
most of all loved his God

Nancy Rodgers