Professor Polymer lives!

Perhaps he’s even playing wideout for the Midshipmen.

And teaching a little sister how to throw a football.

[the last word of Ulysses]:  ___ ___ ___

I just became aware of Ed's passing.  My condolences to Lori and Char on this tremendous loss.  I came to know Ed through his work at the Goodyear-Lawton plant just prior to 1990.  He was a good friend and, briefly, a roommate.  His constant good frame of mind and encouragement blessed me, especially as I transitioned from Goodyear to self-employment.  I will have many wonderful memories of him and things we did together.

I knew Ed from the Holy Family Folk Group in Lawton, OK back in the early-mid 90’s. He was ALWAYS ready with a quick smile and laugh. His favorite expression was ‘Most Excellent!’ He played the double bass in our group, and when he got going he could move your heart in a way that just enriched the whole experience. He also played for the Lawton Philharmonic. It was always fun to see him there, and hear his music adding to the philharmonic. I’ve thought of him often over the years, and somehow we lost touch. A friend just googled him and saw the sad news. Our hearts reach across the country to you and join you in grieving your loss. 

The only photos I have are from my wedding where he played and joined us afterwards (they are in Lawton, and I am in CA for a few more months). He danced with all the young ladies and made them feel special...especially the girls who were 1/3 his height and 1/5 his age. Heaven is made better but Earth is diminished. 

My wife, Nancy, and I are so saddened to learn of Ed’s passing.  We were in a musical folk group together for Holy Family Catholic Church in Lawton, Oklahoma.  Ed played the fiddle bass in our group.  He had the most easygoing, friendly personality.  Always had a big smile on his face.  He was so proud to be a Purdue alum.  Rest In Peace, dear friend.

Our family's fond memory of Ed goes back 20+ years!  Both Ed and our 7 year old son Mark signed up for fencing lessons from a Polish Junior Olympian as part of a fundraiser for our church.    Now Ed has always been a tall lanky person.  And Mark was your average 7 year old.  The class was small,  and so Ed and Mark were sparring partners.  Ed, of course,  would have won every match, except that occasionally Mark would get in at Ed's knees, hard to defend when you are quite tall!  They both had a memorable and fun time at those lessons.  We are truly going to miss him.

My husband Mike and I had the pleasure of getting to know Ed through Trinity Presbyterian Church. He was always quick with his infectious smile and one of the most agreeable people we’ve ever known. One memory that showed his willingness to try anything new was on a First Friday event on Broad Street in Gadsden. There was a group of people who regularly performed line dancing at this monthly event. One of the ladies involved in the group invited him to come and join them one month. We went to observe only to meet him and Lorie walking down the sidewalk while the group was dancing. When we asked why he wasn’t with them he said he was not allowed to participate as they had to practice together to be a part of the dance.  As was the normal for him, he just smiled and said he was disappointed but understood. He was a special man and we will deeply miss him. 

Ed introduced me to the rubber industry as my advisor when I co-oped at Goodyear-Gadsden. Then he continued to show me the ropes in mixing when I hired on full time - sending me up into #12 Banbury to teach me mixer inspections on my second day back. Ed was a selfless teacher and I’m lucky to have learned from him. I still apply many of the things I learned from him even after moving on from Goodyear. Ed remains the hardest working coworker I’ve had, while also being one of few to never complain, rather he did it with a big wave and smile.

I knew Ed through Trinity Presbyterian Church. 
He and my husband , Richmond talked about Goodyear and music.  Ed was our lay reader and read the scriptures every Sunday before the Sermon.   Ed was a talented gentleman. He sang in the choir and played his Wooden Indian flute for worship. I especially loved “Amazing Grace”. He was kind added joy wherever he went. He will be missed. RIP  my friend. 

Ed was a work friend. I always enjoyed seeing him and working with him. If there had ever been an MVP award presented in Mixing, Ed would have been my choice. His demeanor and character was always positive and uplifting. May God's peace bless and comfort your family with His loving Presence in this time of grief. You are in my prayers. 
Sincerely, Roger A. Woodward 

Tragic loss of one of the most beloved and highly respected members of the Goodyear family.  Ed was one of those rare individuals that leaves an enduring and unforgettable impression both professionally and personally.   Although Ed was many years removed from the Lawton, Ok. plant it is almost a daily occurrence from the mixing team to refer to “how Ed used to do it”.  One of his many legacy’s is the number of young compounders and production associates he touched and provided immeasurable training and leadership.  His sense of humor and ability to communicate to all levels of the organization takes on almost mythical, and humorous, proportions.  It was in 1984 I met Ed at the security gate in Lawton, took him on a tour of plant then drove around Lawton looking for housing.  I worked closely with Ed for several years prior to his transfer to Gadsden.  In 2005 we were reunited again when I transferred to Gadsden.  Lorie our prayers and thoughts go out to you and all of Ed’s family.  We’ve lost a guy who we will never see the likes of again.

Phil Anderson


Rest In Peace my friend. You are gone too soon. I will remember to live every day like it is your last because you never know when “The Day” is. I learned so much from you working  together at Goodyear. You never failed to help me if I asked. I am grateful for our friendship. You surprised me many times with your hobbies & interest. The trips you have taken, when you showed up at a fun run downtown, when I listened to you play the flute at the Christmas party..... we have lost a good one. My thoughts & prayers are with your family. 

Ed, will truly be miss, I had the pleasure of working with him for over 20 years. I’m really going miss him saying Tia, can you do me a favor and I would be like as long as I don’t have to work to hard. He was one of the hardest working man I know. God bless his family 

Had the pleasure of working across from this man for 20 plus years he was amazing... loved his wife, the church and giving to others and always had a ear to listen without ever saying a word to anyone.. I am truly saddened by the loss and still find myself crying when I see places he has been today was one of those days.. miss you Big Guy and will do my best to hold the fort down 

My memoirs go back a few more years  than most I'm seeing. I was Ed's slightly older cousin. All of the times that our families got together either at our house or at yours. I'm not really sure how our parents managed to keep all 8 of us under control and kept their sanity. As we got older both of us went from being the older and taller among the cousins to  the old and shorter ones as all of our younger brothers left us behind. We always had the best of times together no matter what or where we were. Lorie you married the best! Our hearts go out to you and in our prayers always. 

Ed taught me so much about a lot of things and no matter where we crossed paths and no matter what was on my mind he would listen, explain, teach, and guide me.  I remember the first day I met him, the first time he gave me an answer, the first time he wouldn’t, the first second time I got to be a part of his team and soo many other memories.  He was a man of many talents and has had a big impact on me... I’m gonna miss you Ed

As a member of Ed’s Goodyear Gadsden family I was both shocked & saddened at the news of his untimely passing. 
Ed always had a smile no matter the crisis in the lab. Calm, cool & collected. That was Ed. You could even hear the smile on his face when you rang his telephone in the wee hours of the morning.  “Good morning! Conrad.”  Nothing short of amazing. 
You will be missed. 
My thoughts and prayers are with you Lori and the Conrad family. 

 I'm deeply saddened to hear the news about Ed.  My sympathy goes out to all of his wife and family.  I worked with Ed at the Lawton plant.  His office was next to the area I worked in.  He was very well liked by everyone that knew him.  We were close in age and liked to play basketball and golf together.  We played basketball almost every weekend during the season.  He became interested in golf because some of the people he worked with and played basketball with like golfing.  He borrowed or rented clubs at first.  He looked awkward being so tall and using clubs too short for him.  We went to a nearby town to play one weekend to play .  When he got there he said he had just bought some new clubs.  He opened the trunk and pulled out an unopened box with his new clubs in it.  He immediately realized he had bought women's clubs.  We got a good laugh when he decided to use them anyways.  He looked even more unorthodox than ever.  After we finished he smiled and said that was the best he ever played.  He was always doing interesting things and had many activities that kept him busy.  He was someone I often had to ask for approval to release rubber and compounds to be used in production.  He was very well respected by the people in the lab I worked in.  His intelligence and candor were greatly appreciated.  I missed having him around after he was transferred but I knew better things were on the horizon for him.  Bless you all.

I worked with Ed for so many years at the Lawton Plant. He is a friend and one of the best compounder  that support me at component preparations. He is very easy to work with and will help you to the best he can. He will be missed by many of his friends and co workers.  I have some good memories with him and other compounders at Lawton Plant. Rest In Peace my friend 

I had the privilege of working with Big Ed as part of the Lawton team.  It was my first time in manufacturing and Ed taught me the ropes in Mixing.  Over the years I have reached out to him if I needed help and he was always willing to assist. 

He was a consummate professional who believed in doing the right thing regardless of any external pressure to take the shortcut.  So many compounders were influenced by Ed.  His passing is a loss to the corporation. 

My sincerest condolences to his wife and family. 


We were shocked to hear of Ed's sudden death.
We will miss his easy way with life.   He had that lovely
smile, it went all over his face and in his eyes.
They were part of us at a the Unitarian Universalist
Church of Spartanburg.  Every time they came to
visit, we were so glad to be with them.
   Our deepest sympathy Lori and for all Ed's family.
Karen and Bob Mitchell

Ed Comrad, brilliant, fun, compassionate, so full of love. You will be missed by an entire community. Your love for your lovely wife is a beautiful story that will never be forgotten. God bless your entire family.

Ed was a wonderful man and a very good friend.  He loved Trinity Presbyterian Church and the people who attend his church loved him.  He served as a greeter, he read the scripture lesson every Sunday before the sermon, and he shared his talents as a musician.  He was very smart and well  rounded in many areas.  He organized eating out every Wednesday night and Sunday after church for his church family. He will be greatly missed.  He loved us and we loved him.  Rest In Peace dear friend until we meet again.

Uncle Ed was the calmest, kindest, and most peaceful person that one could aspire to be. Being deliberate and full of love are the parts of him that spring to mind along with that infectious laugh and flute music that seemed to follow him everywhere. One of my first memories of him was when I was little and he came to visit with a big slab of raw rubber that we all rolled out on the counter and made things with. And the time he came to visit in Richmond and we went biking everywhere. 

His passing has sent shock waves through me that I didn't know were there and that I'm not sure will ever stop vibrating. I know he's in a better place now, continuing to inspire joy. 

I worked with Ed in the batch lab at Goodyear Lawton.  One Saturday he came in to work  and was going to go get pizza for all of us in the lab. I had no cash so I wrote him a check for my part.  Well I waited and waited for him to cash or deposit my check, months later he still had not cashed it, I questioned him about and he did not know what he had done with it, he was also looking for a check that the Lawton Philharmonic Symphony had given him. About a month or so later he found them in the pocket of his suit jacket.😃 . He was a good guy to work with. Prayers of comfort for his wife and family.

Met,Ed at the Goodyear plant while I was a banbury operator. He was an Awesome Compounder answered all the Questions I asked him,that was worked related. Such a nice person,He will missed Greatly........ R.I.P. Ed.

Had the pleasure of getting to know Ed when we worked at the Goodyear plant in Lawton. He was a great guy, very intelligent and had a great sense of humor and talented. My prayers go out to his family and may God comfort you in the days ahead. RIP My friend. 😔

OBITUARY

Charles Edmond Conrad

February 3, 1960 – April 4, 2020

Collier-Butler Funeral Home

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