DOVER, NH - Earlan Lester Seawards passed away peacefully on September 30, 2014 surrounded by his loving family in his home of nearly 40 years in Dover, NH. A native to Dover, Earlan, also known as, “Earl”, “Earl the Pearl”, “Slops”, and “Bamps” was born on February 27, 1923 to Cecil and Irene (Allard) Seawards in Dover, NH. Earlan graduated from Dover High School in 1941 as Senior class president. Upon graduation he served in the South Pacific for the Army Air Corps, which later became the Air Force, from 1942 to 1945. After returning he attended the University of New Hampshire (UNH) where he was a four-year football letterman, a member of the 1947 Glass Bowl team, and later inducted into the Hall of Fame. Earlan’s achievements with UNH Football did not go unnoticed. In 1948 he was offered a player contract with the Pittsburg Steelers however Earlan had already traded in his helmet and shoulder pads for a career in the Air Force. Earlan served his country for over 27 years; he retired from the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command Inspectors General Office in February 1973. His assignments included Okinawa, Lincoln and Omaha, NE., Guam, and Goosebay, Labrador. Earlan was blessed and proud to have served his country. Earlan enjoyed his retirement immersing himself in real estate and served as president to the Dover Gridiron Club, UNH 100 Club, and was a longtime member of the 100 Club Of NH, American Legion Dover, The Retired Officers Association, The Air Force Association, and the Cocheco Country Club. While Earlan led an accomplished life as a military man he will be remembered most for the legacy he leaves behind with his wife of 68 years Dorothy, “Dot”, and his beloved family. Their love story began in 1940 when Earl was a junior and Dot was a freshman attending Dover High School. They were married on January 5, 1946 and were privileged to travel the world together while raising 5 children before settling back to Dover, NH in 1973. Dot and Earl enjoyed 68 years of marriage and perfected spoiling fifteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In the latter years of his life you would find Earl at local high schools across the state watching his grandchildren play sports, enjoying an ice cream, sneaking chocolates, or sitting in his favorite chair with the lapdogs doing crosswords puzzles while smuggling dog treats. Earl was pre-deceased by his parents, his brother, Dr. Cecil Seawards and infant son Richard Clark Seawards. Earlan is survived by his wife Dorothy, his daughter Kay, her husband Dennis Grosskopf and their two sons Jeff and Doug and his daughter McKayla, his son James and wife Penny and their son Travis, his son Robert and wife Kathy their children, Sara, her son Carter, Brooke, her sons Cameron and Chase, Jessica, her son Oliver, Ryan, Sean, Maggie, and Kaleigh, her daughter Lexi, his son Richard and wife Joan, their children Rachel her husband Matt Graceffa and Tim, his son William and wife Jean, their sons Ian and Kyle and William’s daughter, Megan and her husband Jeff Gray, brothers in-law, James M. Clark, Dover, NH, Gordon A. Clark (Doris), South Attleboro, MA, sisters in-law, Marilyn Clark Plumer, Lee Clark, Dover, NH, Shirley Seawards, Santa Barbara, CA and many loving nieces and nephews. A memorial service will take place to celebrate the wonderful life Earl lived on Monday, October 6th at 12PM at The Purdy Memorial Chapel, 2 Concord Road (Route 4), Barrington, NH with a reception to follow. In Lieu of flowers, please donate to the Dover Children’s Home and/or The Wounded Warrior Project. Online condolences may be made at www.purdyfuneralservice.com in the obituary section. Arrangements are under the care of The Purdy Memorial Chapel, 603-868-2100.