Edmond Ed Ray Silliman

Obituary: Edmond (Ed) Ray Silliman, Jr. died peacefully on February 23, 2010 after being hospitalized since the first of the year. He spent his last weeks surrounded by his family and in the care of the amazing and compassionate staff of the Harris Hospice Unit at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte. Ed was born in Rowan County, NC on August 28, 1925 to the late Edmond Ray Silliman, Sr. and Mary Earnhardt Silliman. He was a veteran of the United States Navy during World War II where he served as a radioman on a destroyer escort. For all the obvious reasons he was known as "Reb" to his shipmates. Returning home after the war, Ed married the love of his life, Thelma Eagle, who was his high school sweetheart and the "girl he left behind."They were married for 61 years; Thelma died on January 14, 2008. Ed and Thelma set up housekeeping in Granite Quarry, NC where Ed worked for Farmers and Merchants Bank. Ed was active in the Granite Quarry Volunteer Fire Department, Keller Memorial Masonic Lodge in Rockwell, Civitans and was a charter member of the American Legion Post in Granite Quarry. While there, Ed and Thelma welcomed their two daughters, Joyce and Janice into the world. Joining Bamby Bakers headquartered in Salisbury, NC, Ed and Thelma moved their young family to Rockingham. Ed was an ordained deacon, elder and church treasurer at First Presbyterian Church, Rockingham. While still with Bamby, Ed and Thelma moved to Kannapolis. They joined Bethpage Presbyterian Church where Ed served as an elder and was very active in the life of the church for many years. As a cancer survivor, Ed volunteered with the Northeast Medical Auxiliary in Concord for more than 10 years. Ed and Thelma enjoyed square dancing, camping and traveling together for many years. Ed especially enjoyed woodworking and took great joy in giving away his creations, which are appreciated and enjoyed, by friends and family across the country. Ed and Thelma spent their final years at the Gardens of Taylor Glen in Concord. There, Ed enjoyed bridge, poker, basket weaving and the special musical programs. Ed had an amazing ability to find the humor in even the toughest of circumstances and brought joy to others with his storytelling and jokes. Ed is survived by his sister, Eunice Silliman Heilig (Harry), twodaughters, Joyce Silliman Keistler (Roland) and Janice Silliman Spears (Mike), and four grandchildren; Christina Keistler Sartell (Brad), Emily Keistler Hackford (Andrew), Katherine Blair Spears and Michael Alan Spears. A service in celebration of Ed's life will be held Saturday, February 27 at 1:00 pm at Bethpage Presbyterian Church, 6020 Mooresville Rd, Kannapolis, NC 28081. Interment will follow at the same location. Following the service the family will receive guests in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Martin Senior Center, 960 Heritage Way, Brentwood, TN 37027, YES! (Youth Empowered Solutions), 4801 E. Independence Blvd, Suite 1000, Charlotte, NC 28212, or Presbyterian Hospice and Palliative Care, PO Box 33549, Charlotte, NC 28233. Whitley's Funeral Home handling arrangements.
Visitation: Family will receive friends after the Funeral service in the fellowship hall at Bethpage Presbyterian Church

Service: 1:00 PM Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Bethpage Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis

Interment: at the church cemetery