Edwin Sebastian Gangluff

Edwin Sebastian Gangluff 99 died peacefully surrounded by his family on October 1, 2025 after a short illness.

Ed was born on May 4, 1926 to Joseph Sebastian and Cecilia Rose Noll Gangluff in Levy, Arkansas. Ed grew up on a small rural Arkansas farm. Ed's father passed away during the Great Depression leaving Cecilia to raise 5 children. Ed graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1944, enlisted in the US Navy's V-5 Training Program, and was assigned to attend Arkansas A&M University in Monticello. In November, 1945 he was transferred to the Navy's V-12 program at the University of Louisville pursuing an engineering curriculum. He was honorably discharged in 1946; and enlisted in the Navy’s ROTC program. Ed graduated 2nd in the College of Engineering Class of 1948 as a Chemical Engineer; and was commissioned as an Ensign in the USN Reserve. At Louisville, Ed was active in Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Tau engineering honor societies, and the Triangle social fraternity. In 1984 the University of Louisville recognized Ed as a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus.

Ed began his 38 year career with Exxon at the Bayonne, NJ refinery in 1948. He married Helen in 1951. In 1952 he moved to Exxon’s Bayway, NJ refinery as an Operations Analysis Supervisor in the Technical Department. Ed received several promotions eventually leading the Technical Division in 1956. In 1957 he managed Bayway's Petroleum Products and Chemicals unit of the Processing Division where he emphasized safety and the bottom line. Ed transferred to Exxon’s New York headquarters coordinating East Coast refining in 1960. Meanwhile, Helen and Ed settled down in suburban Westfield, NJ with their children Kevin and Laura.

The family moved to Houston in 1961 when Exxon acquired Humble Oil & Refining Co. where Ed held managerial positions in the Refining and Corporate Planning Departments. In 1964 Ed completed the 46th Advanced Management Program at Harvard.

In 1967 Ed accepted a position in Sydney, Australia as a Director of Esso Australia in charge of refining, logistics, purchasing, and economic planning. The Australia opportunity opened up the world of travel for Ed and the family with vacations to Australian destinations, Central America, Asia, and the South Pacific.

In 1971 Ed and family returned to the US when he became Plant Manager of Exxon's Chemical Plant in Baytown, TX. By 1973 Ed and Helen were empty nesters and moved to Baton Rouge where Ed managed the Chemical Plant. Ed was promoted to Vice President of Exxon Chemical Americas in Houston in 1975. His responsibilities until he retired in 1986 included several product lines, Engineering and Mechanical, Systems, Feedstocks and Energy, Legal, Controllers, and Tax. Ed was viewed as insightful, thorough, motivational, fair, safety conscious, and apolitical. He was particularly proud that the thousands that worked with him, earned the Exxon Chemical President’s Safety Award every year he was Plant Manager.

Ed could never sit still. He enjoyed raising his children and was always available for his grandkids. He puttered around the yard and house, even repainting the Phoenix home in 2011 at age 85. He followed his hometown and university sports teams (including those his children and grandsons attended), tried to play golf faithfully, skied, hiked, biked, and walked. Helen and Ed enjoyed traveling to experience new places and cultures or visit the grandkids. In his spare time, he read his financial and news magazines, sharing his keen insights with family.

Helen passed in 2001 after a short illness. Ed fought off melanoma the same year without skipping a beat. He was always the babysitter of choice for his grandkids and their pets.

Ed married Elaine Braddy in 2003 and moved to her home in Phoenix, AZ. Even though Ed was always fit, she whipped him into better shape hiking, walking, working out, and traveling even more around the country. Sedona was their favorite escape.

Ed was preceded in his death by his brothers, Rudolph and Leander, sisters Mildred Gangluff and Bernice Woods, and grandson Elliott Gangluff. He is survived by his wife Elaine, son Kevin, daughter Laura Hopeck and her husband Bill, grandsons Christopher and Matthew Hopeck, Gregory Gangluff, and five great grandchildren with more on the way.

We would like to express our special thanks to Ed’s care team over the last few years including Pisila, Christina, Sylvia, Solanji, Amy, Rodan, Francisco, and the rest of the team.

Ed will be missed. He was loving, kind, always there, and generous, never forgetting his roots. He imparted his wisdom and work ethic to all around him.

A memorial service will be held at Prince of Peace Catholic Community at 19222 Tomball Parkway on November 3, 2025 at 10: 30 AM. A reception will immediately following the service at the church.

Give him eternal rest, O Lord, and may Your light shine upon him forever.