Edmond P. Whitby

Ed Whitby loved to recite “The Cremation of Sam McGee” by Robert W. Service. He did it at cocktail parties, for strangers on trips in foreign lands, and at nearly every opportunity that presented itself. And then his memory left him and he recited it no more. Ed died of natural causes April 5, 2020 in Highlands, North Carolina.

Edmund P. Whitby, Jr. was born on September 15, 1929, to Edmund, Sr. and Thelma Whitby in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and graduated from Lafayette College with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1951, but not before he was fixed up on a blind date with the striking Jean Patricia Smith. They married in 1952, and moved to Long Island, New York. His company moved them, with their daughter, to Warsaw, Indiana, in 1955, where their son was born. They lived happily there until moving to the mountains in Highlands, North Carolina, in 1977. Ed loved his mountains and the people living there and never wanted to live anywhere else.   He very much enjoyed seeing the world with Jean, friends and family, especially his children and their spouses.  He was “challenged” by foreign languages, often speaking English a little louder to try and get his ideas across.

Ed loved playing bridge and playing golf (two holes-in-one!) with his friends. He was a past president of the Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley and the Country Club of Sapphire Valley, and a member of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.

He is survived by Jean, his loving wife of 68 years, his daughter, Cindy (Jim) Ware of Lexington, Kentucky, and son, Ted (Georgia) Whitby of Wexford, Pennsylvania; his grandchildren, Allison and Sara Whitby and Daniel (Nicole) Ware and his great grandchildren, Ruby and Orie Ware; nieces Jennifer Friedhoff and Stephanie Healey and their families. He will be missed by many, many friends with whom he shared wonderful times.  He was truly a stranger to no one and a friend to all.

A festive memorial service celebrating his life will be held at a later date.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Whitby family. Online condolences can be made at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com