Pat Earles

Pat Earles was one of the brightest individuals I have known. Had he been born at a different time or into a different family he would have been a Professor of Economics at a leading University. As it was, he was born right into the Great Depression to a family which was heavily hit by the economic chaos. Not only did he have to help support his family by selling newspapers while he was attending public school, but he had to enter the labor force as soon as possible to pull his weight in meeting the family¹s basic needs.

 I really know very little about Pat¹s early life, his becoming an expert machinist for the Chrysler Corporation, his time in the Army, his work for the Displaced Persons Commission in Germany, his work at missile bases in Turkey and Italy, but I was aware of his rich history from little snippets of conversation or usually bad jokes which he told related to these interesting sojourns.

I first met Pat when he came to the BUUF in the 1980s. With his financial acumen he had realized the importance of financial investments, including the inflated personal real estate market. By studying tax laws and retirement programs while living simply- he rarely if ever paid interest on borrowed money- he was able to amass enough capital to retire comfortably to the Sorento Skies area of Blowing Rock.

While talking with Pat during coffee hours and after the service, several things quickly became evident. First was that he knew so much more than me about investment and finances that all I could do was to nod him along while not understanding half of what he told me. He would quote his bible, the Wall Street Journal, and books by leading popular economists. His interest and knowledge was in the practical, not in abstruse theory. Secondly, we were both ardent Democrats. He had not only come up in the depression but was deeply committed to civil rights and the welfare of all. Also, Pat hated the way that the religious right played upon people¹s fears and took advantage of them politically and financially. Billy Graham and Jim Bakker were particular villains.

What Pat lacked in manners he made up for in smarts. He was a kind and generous person but he was rough. For all of his reading, writing and thinking, he lacked the smoothness and style to which the middle class is accustomed. I remember telling a friend and fellow UU about his background after he had offended her in some way and she said, "That explains it but it does not excuse it."

Pat¹s lack of tact bothered a number of people but they never looked beyond the surface. Pat was a truly good man. Pat was a constant reader and writer. He always had some notable quotes in his pocket most of which he had cut from the Wall Street Journal. Then he would pull out a filing card with his latest writings. Some times these were meant for a book but more often for a letter to the editor of the Charlotte Observer.  He did not take criticism but some of his political or religious statements were so vitriolic that one knew that no newspaper would dare to print them. That did not mean that they were not meaningful and true. He was usually right on.

Pat lost some of his spunk when he lost much of his hearing and began to have other physical disabilities. His hearing loss was a particular problem. It became difficult to have a meaningful conversation and what conversations one had were so loud that they disturbed other patrons in restaurants or at meetings. Pat was just starting to get used to new hearing aids (if he remembered to put them on) when he passed away. 

If there is an after life, let¹s hope that Pat will get the recognition he deserved, the education of which he was deprived, and be reunited with his long suffering Gertie. without whom all of his accomplishments would not have been possible.

offered by Judith Rothschild

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