Earlom J. Cole (Earl the Pearl), 93, formerly of Stillman Valley passed away at Rockford Memorial Hospital on Friday, May 24, 2013 after a short illness.

Earlom was born July 21, 1919 to George and Margarguite (Secor) Cole in Carollton, Illinois. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp full time for four years and in the reserves for 18 years. On November 30, 1945, he married Virginia Irene Rose in Clinton, Iowa. They celebrated their 67th year of marriage last year. Earlom was the manager of several grain elevators for many years. After that, he then worked for Rockford Blacktop for 22 years. Earlom loved athletics. He was a member of Bally Health Club, Rockford Road runners and Nash Recreational Center in Oregon. He ran numerous 5K races. He participated in the Senior Olympics for many years competing in several events: track, ping pong and swimming the butterfly. His last Olympics was at the age of 85. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church in Rochelle.

Earlom is preceded in death by his parents, two sons: George Cole and Earlom Cole Jr.; infant daughter, Emma; granddaughter, Ernestine (Tina) Cole; son-in-law, Lester Perkins, six brothers: Allen, Keith, Hubert, Kenneth, Dale and Darrell; two sisters: Bernice Reeves and Mildred Poteet.

Earlom is survived by his wife, Irene, three sons: William of Round Lake Beach, IL, Jeffery (Kathy) of Lake Villa, IL and Timothy (Shelly) of Florence, CO; two daughters: Toni Perkins of Rochelle, IL, Tami Cole of Chicago, IL, sister, Bernadine Smith of Wheaton, IL, 15 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at the First Baptist Church in Rochelle with Pastor Doug Cowen officiating. The visitation will be the same day from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. at the church. Burial is at Lawnridge. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church.