Edward Thomas Counter

Edward Thomas Counter, 91, of Nashville, Tennessee, passed away on February 1, 2026. Son of Edward Joseph Counter and Novella Burton Counter, he is survived by his son, Edward Todd Counter; daughter-in-law, Margaret Gash Counter; and grandchildren, Mary Virginia “Vee” Counter, Campbell Meadors Counter, and Henry Fields Counter.

Ed lived a life shaped by education, service, and a deep love for people. A proud graduate of Cohn High School, he earned a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee, becoming the first in his family to attend college. It was an achievement he never took for granted, and one that set the direction for his career and his values for the rest of his life.

At the University of Tennessee, he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and earned his Bachelor of Science in Education. He loved telling stories from those years, especially about living in a dorm below Neyland Stadium and hearing the trains running just outside his room. If he was lucky, he had enough money to ride the bus home to Nashville. On other occasions, he and his friends hitchhiked home.

Ed continued his education at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College, completing a masters degree in education. During those years, he also served in the Army Reserves from 1957 to 1963, a commitment he carried with quiet pride.

After student teaching and completing all requirements, Ed was recruited into the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools as a principal. With several offers, he ultimately chose what was then a new school in Antioch, Cole Elementary School. He called it a “country school,” and he meant it with affection. Ed became the inaugural principal of Cole Elementary and served there for 35 years. Over his tenure, he watched the small school grow into the largest elementary school in Nashville, serving more than 1,000 students across the main campus and the school’s annex. He led with steady conviction, high expectations, and genuine care for students, teachers, and families. He retired in 1997, leaving behind a legacy measured not only in decades, but in the countless lives he helped shape.

Ed loved his wife, Virginia, dearly, and her death from cancer in 1995 marked a profound loss. In retirement, he found joy in antiquing, travel, and working in the yard. He collected a wild number of antique clocks, probably more than any one house should have, but he loved the stories behind each piece and especially the hunt. A social person by nature, Ed cherished time with friends, acquaintances, and former colleagues. He traveled widely with friends, including trips to Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and many other places. In later years, he spent meaningful time at his farm in West Tennessee, drawn to the serenity and simplicity of the place.

Ed loved his family deeply and took special joy in simply being together, whether it was a meal together or a holiday visit, and keeping up with everyone’s latest adventures. He was steady in the quiet ways he showed love and support.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Nashville Humane Association, or Oak Hill School.

A private graveside service will be held for immediate family.