Earl Benton Kretzer, My Dad
Earl Benton KRETZER was the 9th and final child of Charles Henry and Jamima (THOMAS) KRETZER. He was named after his Dad's brother and was born on February 15, 1933 in Van Lear, Johnson County, KY. His dad was employed as a coal miner, as were most of the males in the community, by the Consolidated Coal Company. Earl joined Vivian Charlene (b.1916), Faye Lillian (b. 1919), Delbert Ray (b. 1920), John Edward (b.1922), James (Jimmy) Charles Calvin (B. 1924), Ellen Elizabeth (b. 1926), and Anna (Ann) Louise (b. 1929), to make for a full house. Another sister, Violet Muree (b. 7/8/1917 d. 9/13/1918) had died as a baby.
Earl entered this world in his parent's rented home, at 12:30 PM. His sister Ellen says that the doctor made a house call to make the delivery. The next door neighbor, Julia Barker helped with the delivery and then with the children for the next few days.
Being the youngest, Earl was doted on by his older sisters. At least as much as could be in themodest conditions of an Eastern KY coal mining family. His sister, Ann, tells a story in which as a toddler Earl had been playing in the coal pile and had gotten his hands to the point where you could not tell where the hand started and coal ended. He had gotten an orange so that he could squeeze it for the juice. He would squeeze and the juice would filter through his hands and was turning darker and darker. Ann, concerned for both of their stomachs, intervened and told her little brother that she would get him some juice. Ann was extremely fond of her brother and would remain so all their lives.
Earl loved animals from an early age, and tried to make a pet of just about every animal that came along. That included a chicken. Earl made it a nest and would bring it in the house through the window. It would dutifully sit there just like it belonged. Ellen, his sister, does not recall if it ever
layed an egg for him. As was evident to anyone who knew him, Earl especially loved dogs. He always had at least one dog, and usually a couple to call his own. His dogs were, to his dying day, his constant companions. Ellen tells of one dog that he had when Earl was three or four, that was very protective. It once chased her out of the room where he was sleeping, when she tried to rouse him for the morning. His kids all remember Scrappy, who would bark, yap, and throw a fit when someone (including one of them) would come to the door. Earl would get after the dog, telling her to be quiet. But, as he would soon be giving her a treat as well, the dog still continued to act as a very annoying doorbell.
The dangers of being a coal miner touched home in a very real way on July 17, 1935. The Consolidated Coal Company Mine #155 sustained an explosion. Nine of the twelve men in themine at the time were killed. Earl's Dad, and Uncle William (Bill) Wesley Kretzer were among those lost. Jamima (Mymie) received a small settlement from the mining company, and moved her family north to Ashland, Boyd County, KY.
Earl entered this world in his parent's rented home, at 12:30 PM. His sister Ellen says that the doctor made a house call to make the delivery. The next door neighbor, Julia Barker helped with the delivery and then with the children for the next few days.
Being the youngest, Earl was doted on by his older sisters. At least as much as could be in themodest conditions of an Eastern KY coal mining family. His sister, Ann, tells a story in which as a toddler Earl had been playing in the coal pile and had gotten his hands to the point where you could not tell where the hand started and coal ended. He had gotten an orange so that he could squeeze it for the juice. He would squeeze and the juice would filter through his hands and was turning darker and darker. Ann, concerned for both of their stomachs, intervened and told her little brother that she would get him some juice. Ann was extremely fond of her brother and would remain so all their lives.
Earl loved animals from an early age, and tried to make a pet of just about every animal that came along. That included a chicken. Earl made it a nest and would bring it in the house through the window. It would dutifully sit there just like it belonged. Ellen, his sister, does not recall if it ever
layed an egg for him. As was evident to anyone who knew him, Earl especially loved dogs. He always had at least one dog, and usually a couple to call his own. His dogs were, to his dying day, his constant companions. Ellen tells of one dog that he had when Earl was three or four, that was very protective. It once chased her out of the room where he was sleeping, when she tried to rouse him for the morning. His kids all remember Scrappy, who would bark, yap, and throw a fit when someone (including one of them) would come to the door. Earl would get after the dog, telling her to be quiet. But, as he would soon be giving her a treat as well, the dog still continued to act as a very annoying doorbell.
The dangers of being a coal miner touched home in a very real way on July 17, 1935. The Consolidated Coal Company Mine #155 sustained an explosion. Nine of the twelve men in themine at the time were killed. Earl's Dad, and Uncle William (Bill) Wesley Kretzer were among those lost. Jamima (Mymie) received a small settlement from the mining company, and moved her family north to Ashland, Boyd County, KY.
cont
Earl was a momma's boy. She was very fond of him calling Earl her "little white sugar" This did not preclude her from occasionally teasing her youngest. His sister Ann tells of a time or two, when Earl was still a toddler, in which Mymie would pretend to be holding another baby, and would tell little Earl he wasn't "the" baby anymore. This would upset him and he would cry and pout. His Mom would spend the rest of the day making up to him.
Earl spent the next years attending school, (until the 8th grade) and spending as much time as he could in the woods behind his mother's home. He loved to play and explore there. He also took up smoking, bumming money from his family to buy cigarettes.
There were limited opportunities for a man with little education in the Ashland area. Seeing as how he had lost his father, and two uncles to coal mine accidents, taking on the task of relocating to the coal fields at the age of 18 probably did not sound very appealing. So, upon reaching the that age of majority (18), Earl decided to enlist in the Navy.
Earl Benton Kretzer became a member of the United States Navy in 1951. He was offered the choice of being based on the East or West Coast. Although his reasons for joining the Navy probably included seeing new places, he still wanted to be as close to his family as possible. He chose the East Coast, and was based in Norfolk, VA. Earl served aboard two different ships, the LSM(R) 514, and the AKA 100 USS Oglethorpe. His single tour of duty saw him to many different ports and countries. Those included Spain, Portugal, France, Havana, Sicily, and Greece.
The USS Oglethorpe was an Attack/Cargo Ship. It's primary function was in supply. Earl's General Quarters post, in case of attack was at one of the forward 20mm Cannons. The LSM(R), which stands for Landing Ship Medium Rocket, was Earl's first assignment. Earl suffered a bout of homesickness, after about a year and half and went AWOL to see his mother and siblings. After his tour was completed, he decided against re-enlisting and went home.
It was during this time back home when Earl had more time on his hands than he was used to. He would sometimes drink too much beer. Once, Tom McKnight (Ellen's husband) and Edgar Sparks (his sister Faye's husband) had to make the long drive down to Van Lear, to bail both Earl and brother Delbert out of jail for being drunk. Another occasion, which alcohol may or may not have been involved, Earl turned his car on it's side after hitting a utility pole and running up on an embankment.
The economic conditions had not improved, and after a short time working in a local lumber yard, or not at all, Earl went back into the
service. This time he chose the Air Force. He enlisted in 1957 and after a two week refresher training course, in San Antonio, TX, he was assigned to a base in Maine.
Earl spent the next years attending school, (until the 8th grade) and spending as much time as he could in the woods behind his mother's home. He loved to play and explore there. He also took up smoking, bumming money from his family to buy cigarettes.
There were limited opportunities for a man with little education in the Ashland area. Seeing as how he had lost his father, and two uncles to coal mine accidents, taking on the task of relocating to the coal fields at the age of 18 probably did not sound very appealing. So, upon reaching the that age of majority (18), Earl decided to enlist in the Navy.
Earl Benton Kretzer became a member of the United States Navy in 1951. He was offered the choice of being based on the East or West Coast. Although his reasons for joining the Navy probably included seeing new places, he still wanted to be as close to his family as possible. He chose the East Coast, and was based in Norfolk, VA. Earl served aboard two different ships, the LSM(R) 514, and the AKA 100 USS Oglethorpe. His single tour of duty saw him to many different ports and countries. Those included Spain, Portugal, France, Havana, Sicily, and Greece.
The USS Oglethorpe was an Attack/Cargo Ship. It's primary function was in supply. Earl's General Quarters post, in case of attack was at one of the forward 20mm Cannons. The LSM(R), which stands for Landing Ship Medium Rocket, was Earl's first assignment. Earl suffered a bout of homesickness, after about a year and half and went AWOL to see his mother and siblings. After his tour was completed, he decided against re-enlisting and went home.
It was during this time back home when Earl had more time on his hands than he was used to. He would sometimes drink too much beer. Once, Tom McKnight (Ellen's husband) and Edgar Sparks (his sister Faye's husband) had to make the long drive down to Van Lear, to bail both Earl and brother Delbert out of jail for being drunk. Another occasion, which alcohol may or may not have been involved, Earl turned his car on it's side after hitting a utility pole and running up on an embankment.
The economic conditions had not improved, and after a short time working in a local lumber yard, or not at all, Earl went back into the
service. This time he chose the Air Force. He enlisted in 1957 and after a two week refresher training course, in San Antonio, TX, he was assigned to a base in Maine.
cont
None of Earl's sisters mentioned it in the interviews conducted about their brother. But at some point in time Earl's love of working with his hands must havemanifested itself early on. His specialty in the Air Force was in construction. He spent the rest of his life working in that area. He was very gifted in that respect. In the years to come he would take care of all household projects. From building shelves, to renovating a room, to building a shed/workshop in his backyard. He made gifts for his grandchildren, among them a toy box for Jolene Kretzer. And he made the dog houses for his companions. They came complete with a heat lamp for those cold winter nights. He did his own plumbing, electrical work, and even poured his own concrete. These he did without blueprints or help.
Earl was stationed in Maine for about a year. From there he spent a year in Alaska, where he earned his GED. Earl had been corresponding with Mary Katherine Schenfeld, who he had met through an Air Force buddy. Earl and Mary Katherine (Kathy, to Earl and the kids. Mary Katherine, to her family) were married on Feb 25, 1961. Earl was assigned to F.E. Warren AFB where on Feb 14, 1962, a son was born to them. However, due to a defect in the diaphragm muscle David Charles KRETZER died the following day. It was Earl's 29th birthday. 17 months later,
on July 2, 1963 a second son, William Earl Kretzer was born. Two years later, on August 1, 1965. a third son, Darrin Edward Kretzer arrived.
The Vietnam war was in full swing and the following year, Earl was transferred overseas, to Thailand. His specialty in the Air Force was Construction, so he was assigned to build barracks for U-Tapao (Utapao) Air Base that was being constructed there.
Earl had left a pregnant wife, and two young sons. They had decided that Kathy would need all the help that she could get, so Bill and Darrin, abt 1966 the family moved to Brighton, so that she and the boys would be around Kathy's extended family. Sally Ann Kretzer, their first daughter, was born October 17, 1966. Earl's overseas tour ended in 1967, he had not been home for the birth. Bill's few memories of the time Earl was away included his return, in which Bill remembered thinking that Earl would look different. He did, but Bill couldn't remember exactly how. Also a letter in which Kathy received. In it Earl had told of eating some sort of bug that landed on his food.
Earl was stationed in Maine for about a year. From there he spent a year in Alaska, where he earned his GED. Earl had been corresponding with Mary Katherine Schenfeld, who he had met through an Air Force buddy. Earl and Mary Katherine (Kathy, to Earl and the kids. Mary Katherine, to her family) were married on Feb 25, 1961. Earl was assigned to F.E. Warren AFB where on Feb 14, 1962, a son was born to them. However, due to a defect in the diaphragm muscle David Charles KRETZER died the following day. It was Earl's 29th birthday. 17 months later,
on July 2, 1963 a second son, William Earl Kretzer was born. Two years later, on August 1, 1965. a third son, Darrin Edward Kretzer arrived.
The Vietnam war was in full swing and the following year, Earl was transferred overseas, to Thailand. His specialty in the Air Force was Construction, so he was assigned to build barracks for U-Tapao (Utapao) Air Base that was being constructed there.
Earl had left a pregnant wife, and two young sons. They had decided that Kathy would need all the help that she could get, so Bill and Darrin, abt 1966 the family moved to Brighton, so that she and the boys would be around Kathy's extended family. Sally Ann Kretzer, their first daughter, was born October 17, 1966. Earl's overseas tour ended in 1967, he had not been home for the birth. Bill's few memories of the time Earl was away included his return, in which Bill remembered thinking that Earl would look different. He did, but Bill couldn't remember exactly how. Also a letter in which Kathy received. In it Earl had told of eating some sort of bug that landed on his food.
cont
After some time off, his orders came through, and the family was off to Warner Robbins, GA. On June 23, 1968, Jayme Stephen Kretzer was born. The Kretzer's lived in Warner Robbins, for a total of five years. In that time the family lived in two different houses. The first remembered by Bill and Darrin as "The Pink House", was on Leota Circle. The final one was at 203 Sewell Circle. Bill and Darrin also started school, attending Lindsay Elementary School. Earl retired from the Air Force, with the rank of Staff Seargent in July 1973. The decision was made to move and make the family's permanent home in Brighton, to be back near Kathy's extended family.
Sadly the trip which was to have included a fifth child, didn't. Mary Ann KRETZER was stillborn
on June 28, 1972. Her death caused by the umbilical cord wrapping around her neck. The parents had the baby shipped to Brighton, to be buried in the Babyland section, of Elmwood Cemetery. The cross country trip itself was, until the kids reached adulthood, the most they had ever traveled and one of the most remembered parts of their early childhood.
As the family was moving so far away, the proximity to Earl's family was relatively short, and the likelihood it would be years before they saw each other again, the family made stops in Dothan, AL and Ashland, KY to visit Earl's mother and siblings.
The trip took about a week to complete, with the stops to visit. Plans had been made to stay with Kathy's parents until the family could find a place of their own. Stephen and Catherine(MILDENBERGER) SCHENFELD lived at 335 Strong St, in Brighton. And so did Earl and his
family for a couple of days. They then moved into a duplex on Mather St. Their first night there was spent without the benefit of their belongings. The moving van arrived the next day.
Earl soon found work at a local vegetable processing plant, Kuners. He worked a graveyard shift. Kathy stayed at home to tend to the four kids. Working that off shift was not fun. Everyone else was awake and about while he tried to sleep and all of the kids were up and at school by the time he got home. So it wasn't long before Earl got a job with the local school district, 27-J, working in the maintenance department. Earl worked there from 1974 until he retired at age 60 in 1993.
Sadly the trip which was to have included a fifth child, didn't. Mary Ann KRETZER was stillborn
on June 28, 1972. Her death caused by the umbilical cord wrapping around her neck. The parents had the baby shipped to Brighton, to be buried in the Babyland section, of Elmwood Cemetery. The cross country trip itself was, until the kids reached adulthood, the most they had ever traveled and one of the most remembered parts of their early childhood.
As the family was moving so far away, the proximity to Earl's family was relatively short, and the likelihood it would be years before they saw each other again, the family made stops in Dothan, AL and Ashland, KY to visit Earl's mother and siblings.
The trip took about a week to complete, with the stops to visit. Plans had been made to stay with Kathy's parents until the family could find a place of their own. Stephen and Catherine(MILDENBERGER) SCHENFELD lived at 335 Strong St, in Brighton. And so did Earl and his
family for a couple of days. They then moved into a duplex on Mather St. Their first night there was spent without the benefit of their belongings. The moving van arrived the next day.
Earl soon found work at a local vegetable processing plant, Kuners. He worked a graveyard shift. Kathy stayed at home to tend to the four kids. Working that off shift was not fun. Everyone else was awake and about while he tried to sleep and all of the kids were up and at school by the time he got home. So it wasn't long before Earl got a job with the local school district, 27-J, working in the maintenance department. Earl worked there from 1974 until he retired at age 60 in 1993.
cont
During that time Earl had also taken a correspondence class to learn locksmithing. He was able to make himself much more valuable to the school district and gave him a sense of accomplishment.
His son, Bill, had one distinctive memory of the time when Earl was beginning locksmithing. Earl had brought home two combination locks that he did not know the combinations to. He asked Bill, to mess with them to see if he could open them. Bill was into codes and ciphers back then, and Earl told Bill that the serial number on back could be used to open the lock. Bill tried everything and gave up after an hour or so. He gave them back to Earl. Earl then tried various combinations and stayed up all night. By morning he had the combinations to both locks. Bill was very impressed. There are about 270,000 possible combinations of numbers and there were two locks. That is some kind of stubbornness and determination.
Not long after Earl retired (1993) he was forced to go to the doctor because he couldn't breathe. His worse fears were confirmed when he was first admitted for pneumonia and diagnosed with emphysema. A couple of days later he was sent home with an oxygen bottle and a nasal hose. This was enough to make the 60 something year old Earl, with a 50 year smoking habit, quit, cold turkey. Shortly after his pneumonia cleared up, he was able to go off
of oxygen, but smoking had taken its toll. He was forced to go back on it, full time, just a few months later.
In Oct 2002 Earl had a stoke. Quick action by his wife, in calling the ambulance and prompt action by the Platte Valley Medical Center Emergency Room doctor, in giving Earl a dose of a clot busting drug, not only saved his life, but allowed him to recover with no noticeable
deficient. His family was very thankful for that.
One side effect of the stroke was to solidify the urge for Earl to go back to Kentucky one more time. He wanted to see what was left of his family. Earl had been back to Ashland, KY twice in the past 29 years. Once in 1976 for the funeral of his mother, and once in 1983 for the funeral of his sister, Vivian. Going home was something that Earl had been putting off. He hated to travel and hadn't ventured much farther than Wal-Mart (other than the two trips) in 25 years. Going to Denver was more than it was worth to him. But, while he was still in the hospital, he mentioned to his son, Bill, that he figured it was now going to be impossible for him to get back to Kentucky. Earl doesn't fly and at the time there was plenty of doubts as to if he would be able to drive or not. Even if he could, neither he nor Kathy was really up to that kind of prolonged strain. Bill offered to take him if he wanted to go. So after a discussion with Bill's wife Margo, it was decided that their family vacation in 2003 would be to Ashland, KY.
His son, Bill, had one distinctive memory of the time when Earl was beginning locksmithing. Earl had brought home two combination locks that he did not know the combinations to. He asked Bill, to mess with them to see if he could open them. Bill was into codes and ciphers back then, and Earl told Bill that the serial number on back could be used to open the lock. Bill tried everything and gave up after an hour or so. He gave them back to Earl. Earl then tried various combinations and stayed up all night. By morning he had the combinations to both locks. Bill was very impressed. There are about 270,000 possible combinations of numbers and there were two locks. That is some kind of stubbornness and determination.
Not long after Earl retired (1993) he was forced to go to the doctor because he couldn't breathe. His worse fears were confirmed when he was first admitted for pneumonia and diagnosed with emphysema. A couple of days later he was sent home with an oxygen bottle and a nasal hose. This was enough to make the 60 something year old Earl, with a 50 year smoking habit, quit, cold turkey. Shortly after his pneumonia cleared up, he was able to go off
of oxygen, but smoking had taken its toll. He was forced to go back on it, full time, just a few months later.
In Oct 2002 Earl had a stoke. Quick action by his wife, in calling the ambulance and prompt action by the Platte Valley Medical Center Emergency Room doctor, in giving Earl a dose of a clot busting drug, not only saved his life, but allowed him to recover with no noticeable
deficient. His family was very thankful for that.
One side effect of the stroke was to solidify the urge for Earl to go back to Kentucky one more time. He wanted to see what was left of his family. Earl had been back to Ashland, KY twice in the past 29 years. Once in 1976 for the funeral of his mother, and once in 1983 for the funeral of his sister, Vivian. Going home was something that Earl had been putting off. He hated to travel and hadn't ventured much farther than Wal-Mart (other than the two trips) in 25 years. Going to Denver was more than it was worth to him. But, while he was still in the hospital, he mentioned to his son, Bill, that he figured it was now going to be impossible for him to get back to Kentucky. Earl doesn't fly and at the time there was plenty of doubts as to if he would be able to drive or not. Even if he could, neither he nor Kathy was really up to that kind of prolonged strain. Bill offered to take him if he wanted to go. So after a discussion with Bill's wife Margo, it was decided that their family vacation in 2003 would be to Ashland, KY.
cont
In addition to Earl & Kathy, Bill and Margo (JONES) KRETZER, and their daughter, Jessica, Earl's granddaughter from Sally, Arielle CHIQUITO went as well. Overnight stops were made in Abilene, KS, and St Louis, MO on the way there. On the way back overnight stops were made in Nashville and Memphis, TN, Branson, MO, and Dodge City, KS. Sights seen included the
Gateway Arch, Grand Ole Opry (2nd row from the stage), US Space and Rocket Center, in Huntsville, Alabama, the Ducks plus two shows in Branson, the site of the Dalton Gang's attempt to rob two banks at the same time in Coffeyville, KS, and Front Street in Dodge City, KS. It was a very memorable trip for everyone. In Ashland Earl got to see his three remaining siblings, Ellen
MCKNIGHT, Ann RENFROE, and Delbert KRETZER. He also had an afternoon visit with his sister-in-law Opal (Cole) KRETZER. Opal was
Jimmy KRETZER's wife. Jimmy and Opal lived next door to Jimmy and Earl's Mom while Earl was a boy. He was very close to the both of them. One of Earl's regrets was that he did notgo back to KY sooner to see his brother, Jimmy,before he passed away.
On February 15, 2003 Earl celebrated his 70th birthday. It was given by his wife, Mary Katherine, as a surprise party. The party was
held at his son Bill's house and was attended by all of his children, and all grandchildren, except Jolene Kretzer who had to work. Attendees also included Mary Katherine's brother Jerry SCHENFELD, and his wife Nedra, and Kathy's Aunt Blondie SUPPES. Gifts given were of the
gag variety, T-shirts, a propeller beanie, and Preparation H, being among those that stood out.
On or about Oct 18, 2005, Earl was admitted to the hospital again. He had just been to the doctor, the day before. But a sudden worsening of his lung condition caused a trip to the emergency room. He was admitted to Platte Valley Medical Center with pneumonia. He was transferred to Kindred Hospital, which specialized in respiratory illness, on the 20th. His condition did not improve and the doctors were forced to put him first on a ByPat machine and then on a ventilator. After two weeks, of slow deterioration Earl passed away on November 4, 2005, at the age of 72. He was buried, at Elmwood Cemetery, with full military honors, on November 7th. Earl and Kathy Kretzer have managed to raise four kids. They did this with the employment they were able to gain with only modest education. All four kids are employed, raising families, support
one another, and have been taught to respect the authority and be honest in whatever they do.
From the four children Earl and Kathy have nine grandchildren. Jolene and Jessica KRETZER, from Bill. Shasta, Kayla, Colton, and Tanner KRETZER, from Darrin. Shane and Arielle CHIQUITO from Sally. Finally, Brandon KRETZER from Jayme. All are doing fine and have
been taught the same values taught to them by Earl and Kathy.
Gateway Arch, Grand Ole Opry (2nd row from the stage), US Space and Rocket Center, in Huntsville, Alabama, the Ducks plus two shows in Branson, the site of the Dalton Gang's attempt to rob two banks at the same time in Coffeyville, KS, and Front Street in Dodge City, KS. It was a very memorable trip for everyone. In Ashland Earl got to see his three remaining siblings, Ellen
MCKNIGHT, Ann RENFROE, and Delbert KRETZER. He also had an afternoon visit with his sister-in-law Opal (Cole) KRETZER. Opal was
Jimmy KRETZER's wife. Jimmy and Opal lived next door to Jimmy and Earl's Mom while Earl was a boy. He was very close to the both of them. One of Earl's regrets was that he did notgo back to KY sooner to see his brother, Jimmy,before he passed away.
On February 15, 2003 Earl celebrated his 70th birthday. It was given by his wife, Mary Katherine, as a surprise party. The party was
held at his son Bill's house and was attended by all of his children, and all grandchildren, except Jolene Kretzer who had to work. Attendees also included Mary Katherine's brother Jerry SCHENFELD, and his wife Nedra, and Kathy's Aunt Blondie SUPPES. Gifts given were of the
gag variety, T-shirts, a propeller beanie, and Preparation H, being among those that stood out.
On or about Oct 18, 2005, Earl was admitted to the hospital again. He had just been to the doctor, the day before. But a sudden worsening of his lung condition caused a trip to the emergency room. He was admitted to Platte Valley Medical Center with pneumonia. He was transferred to Kindred Hospital, which specialized in respiratory illness, on the 20th. His condition did not improve and the doctors were forced to put him first on a ByPat machine and then on a ventilator. After two weeks, of slow deterioration Earl passed away on November 4, 2005, at the age of 72. He was buried, at Elmwood Cemetery, with full military honors, on November 7th. Earl and Kathy Kretzer have managed to raise four kids. They did this with the employment they were able to gain with only modest education. All four kids are employed, raising families, support
one another, and have been taught to respect the authority and be honest in whatever they do.
From the four children Earl and Kathy have nine grandchildren. Jolene and Jessica KRETZER, from Bill. Shasta, Kayla, Colton, and Tanner KRETZER, from Darrin. Shane and Arielle CHIQUITO from Sally. Finally, Brandon KRETZER from Jayme. All are doing fine and have
been taught the same values taught to them by Earl and Kathy.