My dad was born in LaPorte, Indiana and was raised in Valparaiso, Indiana. He played football for Valparaiso High School He also enlisted in the army in 1945 and was discharged in 1947. He graduated from Canterbury College in Danville, Indiana and received a master's degree from Ball State. He had a versatile teaching career ranging from teaching 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grades in Avon, Indiana all the way up to German, physical education, drugs and narcotics, and driver’s education. He also taught health, English and served as Dean of Students for 12 years at Portage High School, Portage, Indiana. My dad also coached freshman basketball, track, JV football and he was the head football coach for PHS for 14 years in 1956 to 1969.

He married my mom, Marcella Housman in 1952. They were blessed with two children Geoffrey Lee Smith and Nancy Leigh Smith. However, on September 13, 1965 tragedy struck when Geoff died suddenly at school at the age of 12 of a heart attack. Geoff passing was hard on the whole family and we all had a hard time getting past. Then on April 29, 1969 his mom died of cancer and on December 25, 1970 he lost his step-father due to a heart attack.

In 1976 my dad became a proud grandfather of his only grandson, Joshua Lee (Stalbaum) Rodgers. My dad was a large part of Joshua’s life. They spend most of their free time together. When you saw my dad, you saw Josh. It was wonderful to see how close they were to each other.

While my dad was coaching, he was known as “coach” to a lot of young men. He was looked up to as a friend, father figure, and leader. A few years ago I was invited to a dinner that honored my dad as one of the coaches from Portage High School. It was a very emotional night for me, but somehow I knew that he was with me. Everyone that knew my dad loved and respected him. I received several letters and cards from people after my dad (I called him “pop”) passed telling me what a special person he was. Even though you know how special they are, it is always nice to know what others think of him.

My parents got divorced later in life and my dad got remarried to Linda Spencer. They then lived in Portage, Indiana before moving to Sun City, Arizona where he spent the last few years of his life.

I miss my dad a lot and wish that he was here. But I was fortunate to spend a couple of weeks with him before he passed. One week Joshua and I went to see him, and the last week my husband Dennis and I went. We talked about a lot of things and I knew that he was ready to go. My dad was in kidney failure, along with some other problems. He had fallen in April and broke his hip and everything seemed to go downhill after that. It is funny that I can look at my son and listen to him and at times I can see and hear my dad. They are alike in some ways – one being their sense of humor. One thing that I know for sure is that I will never forget him. He has been my father now for 47 years and even though we had some good and bad times, they all make up the memories that I have of him. I thank God that I was able to have him for my father.

My dad’s philosophy of life was: “Living one day at a time and enjoying every day to the fullest.” Not a bad philosophy if I do say so myself.

Bye Pop, you are always with me in my heart and your memories are great. I do miss talking to you. I am glad that I could spend my 44^th birthday with you. It is one I will never forget.

Nancy Rodgers