Edgar B. Lansford, Sr., “Edd” or “Pops,” as he was known, passed away peacefully April 30, 2021 in Athens. He was born on a mountain top in Chattanooga, TN to Ottis G. and Lucille Lansford. After a few years in Miami, where his father was stationed in the Coast Guard during WW2, the Lansford’s settled in Powersville, GA, in Peach County near Robins AFB. He was the oldest of four, and the only son.
Edgar attended Byron High where he was Senior class president in 1959. He excelled in athletics. He lettered 4 years in basketball and track. He loved music too, and was in the Glee club. He graduated from Georgia Southern College in 1964 with a BS degree in Physical Education & Recreation. He met the mother of his oldest two sons there. They eloped that same year and, after graduation, settled in rural Columbia County.
He taught and coached basketball at Langford Jr. H.S., in Augusta before securing a position at the Veterans Administration’s Linwood campus, in Augusta. He would stay with the VA for more than 20 years primarily as a Recreation Therapist. He moved from Augusta to the Atlanta VA, in Decatur, and then back to Augusta. There was a one year stint at the VA in Montrose, NY in between the Georgia campuses.
As a Recreation Therapist with the VA he took the patients bowling, showed movies, took patients to play miniature golf, made rule decisions on pinochle games and organized picnics at Clark’s Hill Lake. He also hone d his golf and tennis skills at this time. He wasn’t a big fan of bowling but still bowled, at least, two 300 games. He also bowled a 290 with his left hand. Most importantly he was operator of the popcorn machine during movie showings.
After retiring from the VA he worked in the insurance industry before moving back to teaching and coaching. He helped coach tennis, drove the bus for multiple sports teams, and taught at Creekside High in Fulton County. He served similar roles at Hancock Central, in Sparta, before permanently retiring.
One could make a case that Edd was the world’s oldest teenager. He always loved the things he associated with his formative years in the 50s; Rock and Roll music, Hollywood Movies, especially comedies and westerns, Sports, and Milkshakes. He was a fun loving man who wished everyone around him to enjoy themselves. He lived life on his own terms and always was out to have fun with the company of others whether dining out, a sporting endeavor, or just visiting. He also had a china cabinet full of ALTA plates from years of playing. He was very competitive and loved the esprit de corps of team sports and especially doubles tennis.
He also loved electronic gadgets, and devices, from transistor radios, walkmans, video recorders, and any after market device for an automobile; he had the first car cassette tape player and multiple compact disc changer that most of us ever saw. He always was looking to add more “classic movies” to his DVD library.
He loved his family, and friends. Everyone, who knew him, loved him. He is already missed.
He was preceded in death by parents, Ottis G. Lansford and Lucille Lansford, sisters Martha Lansford Mazo, and Sandra Lansford Smith. He is survived by wife Paula Lansford, sister Gail Lansford Panzer, sons, Robert F. Lansford, Edgar B. Lansford, Jr. , and O.G. “Graham” Lansford II, along with stepson Ian Dickinson & stepdaughter Emily Dickinson Poole, and lots of grandkids.
Tributes:
Edd was my love, my soulmate, always putting my needs first, above his, and my happiness was the most important thing to him. He was so very easy to love and my life will never be the same without him. Unitl we meet again…. –Paula Lansford, Widow, wife of 22 years
When we were in school, my brother was my hero. He always took my side, and his 2 other sisters, no matter what. He was always smiling and in a good mood. He had so many friends, and was always helping people; just being kind and thoughtful in many ways. – Gail Lansford Panzer, sister
My father could always make me laugh, uncontrollably, like no other person. From tickling me when I was a kid, laughing watching movies, or at something somebody said or did. I have the same trait with my daughter. I can see Pops in myself. I never told him this, but surely wished I had. His absence leaves a hole in all of us. –Robb Lansford, son
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