He was born February 10, 1925, in Belvidere IL, son of Charles R and Florence L. Bennett. He attended public schools in Decatur, IL, graduating from Decatur High School in 1942. He graduated from Millikin University in 1955.
He married Isabel Jane Mahannah on May 4, 1947. He was a devoted husband and father to their two daughters, Cheryl Western and Debbie (Terry) Neathery, both of Springfield. He was the proud Grandpa of Jennifer (Rick) Hinds, Megan (Alan) Edmondson, Kristin (Pete) Trapp and Kara (Ken) Hinds. He was so proud to be “GP” to 6 great grandsons, Brandon, Jake and Justin Hinds, Alec Kennett, Kaden Hinds, and Elijah Trapp and 4 great granddaughters, Reese and Riley Edmondson, Kylie Hinds, and Addison Trapp. Ed was very proud of his entire family and enjoyed being a part of their activities. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Charles R Reynolds, Jr.
He was a member of Masonic Lodge Central Lodge No. 71 since 1953 and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Springfield since 1973. In March of 2012, he was awarded a certificate and medal as a Master Overseer. He belonged to the Telephone Pioneers and First United Methodist church. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and genealogy. He and Isabel enjoyed a number of national and international vacation trips.
Ed was an Army ambulance driver in Europe during WWII. He was awarded three overseas bands, American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with four bronze battle stars. He participated in Northern France, Andennes, Rhineland and Central Europe battle campaigns. In 2010, he had the great pleasure of taking the Honor Flight with other WWII veterans to Washington DC to visit the war memorials.
Ed retired from Illinois Bell Telephone Company in 1982 after almost 31 years of service. He served as Commercial Department Manager in Sterling-Rock Falls and Joliet. Prior to retirement he was involved in expense forecasting and analysis at the state level for the Commercial Department for Illinois Bell in Chicago. After retirement he worked for 15 years at Beuckima’s Hardware in Naperville, IL. He and Isabel relocated back to Springfield in 1998.
Memorial Services will be held at Bisch Funeral Home West on Friday, April 18, 2014. Visitation will be at 10 am and Military Memorial services will begin at 11 am. Dr. Robert Swickard will officiate. In Lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church, Land of Lincoln Honor Flight or Shriner’s Hospital for Children in St. Louis.
Please visit www.bischfuneralhomewest.com where tributes and condolences may be left for the family..
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