Earl Kenneth Edington

Earl Kenneth Edington, 89, died December 15 at the Cheyenne VA Medical Center. He was born to Noah and Minnie (Emery) February 24, 1925 in Lyons, Indiana and lived in Indiana until 2007 when he moved to Cheyenne to be near his family.

He served in WWII in the Coast Guard from 1943 to 1946 in the Pacific and the Aleutian Islands, returning to Bloomington, Indiana after his discharge, to marry Dola Gaddis on December 31, 1946. Earl studied in Chicago, Illinois and became certified as a diesel mechanic. He was hired by Cummins Engine Company in Columbus, Indiana where he spent his entire career, retiring in 1982. He was a 50 year member of the Masonic Hope Lodge No.150 Masonic Lodge. With his wife Dola they served in all levels in the Order of the Eastern Star No. 120. They were long time members of Waynesburg Christian Church.

Retirement years were spent visiting family and traveling. After his wife of 56 years died he made the decision to move out west living independently in several retirement communities. He was involved with all the activities and would teach Earl’s Game to anyone that would play cards. He cherished being a regular part of the family activities and seeing his great grandsons for breakfast every Wednesday at the Primrose Retirement Community. A highlight of his life, after moving to Cheyenne, was an Honor Flight in May of 2010, accompanied by his son.

He is survived by a brother Noah Edington of Indiana. Also his son Don Edington (Vanda) his grandchildren Jim Edington (Liz) of Cheyenne and Kristin Edington of Seattle, Washington, a step great-grandson Sam Bower, Laramie, Wyoming and great-grandsons Barrick, Jamisen and Rylan Edington.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Geneva Edington, Eva Figg, brothers Charles and Elmer Edington.

The family wishes to thank his home health care nurses Sue Tardif and Toni Griego as well as the amazing doctors and nurses at the VA that sustained his life with the treatment of his COPD over many years, as well as the staff of Primrose Retirement Community as they made his last year memorable with their commitment to the residents.

A celebration of his life well lived will be at 10 AM Friday at Widerspahn Radomsky Chapel followed by a reception at Primrose Retirement Community 1530 Dorothy Lane.

Internment and a graveside service at Garland Brook Cemetery under the direction of Rittman-Jewell Funeral Home in Columbus, Indiana where he will be reunited with his beloved Dola, will be Tuesday, December 23rd at 1:00 p.m. Military honors will be provided by Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers friends and family may wish to contribute to The Earl Edington Diesel Mechanic endowment scholarship at Laramie County Community College established in his honor in 2007.