Edward D. Will, 69, of Dunkirk, NY passed away peacefully Saturday, January 24, 2015 at home with family and friends after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
He was born in Buffalo, NY on November 22, 1945 to the late Edward & Helen (Berner) Will.
As a young man, Ed was well known as a Lifeguard at Evans Town Park. In 1964 he graduated from Lake Shore Central High School where he ran on the track team and pole vaulted. Ed was first employed at the Ford Motor Company Buffalo Stamping Plant. Subsequently he started work for Niagara Mohawk as a Meter Reader.
In 1966, the United States Army drafted Ed to serve his country attaining the rank of Specialist First Class. After a tour in Vietnam he was honorably discharged in 1967.
Upon returning to Niagara Mohawk, Ed attended school to become a lineman. He worked as a lineman based out of the Dewey Avenue Service Center, Buffalo, NY before being transferred to Angola, NY. After spending time at the Fredonia, NY garage, Ed transferred back to Angola as a C Hot Stick lineman. In 1986, he was promoted to the position of Supervisor of Transmission and Distribution for the Fredonia, NY region of Niagara Mohawk. He retired in November 2000.
Ed had an immense love for the water and spent many hours snorkeling and scuba diving. After retirement, Ed realized a lifelong dream to purchase a Monk Trawler and travel down the Erie Canal and Intracoastal Waterway to spend the winter in the Bahamas. He also loved sailing and shared his passion with many. He could be found racing Shark sailboats on Wednesdays & Sundays.
A consummate carpenter and wood worker, Ed helped design and finish the work on his dream house on the lake in Dunkirk in 1988. He built many model ships, crafted sailing trophies, created several pieces of fine furniture, rebuilt three Shark sailboats and worked with friends for several years to restore a John Alden 1927 Malabar Junior sailboat christened Muirgen.
An avid Sportsman, Ed enjoyed trips to Canada to fish and out west to hunt where he collected many trophies. He helped construct a family cabin in Caneadea, NY where he loved to spend time and hunt with his father and godson Peter.
Ed loved Corvettes and especially his 1952 MG TD.
Each year Ed enjoyed winter trips to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands where he put many of his skills to good use and developed numerous friendships.
Ed was a Life Member of the VFW and the American Legion. He was an active Life Member of the Dunkirk Yacht Club where he served on the board of directors and was Commodore in 1987. And was Dock Master from 2005-2014. Ed was also a member of the International Order of the Blue Gavel, the oyal Order of the Moose and the National Rifle Association of America.
Ed is survived by his devoted wife of 44 years, Joan Lemmler Will, his sister Judy (Robert) Fuerst, brother Rodney (Nancy) Will, nieces and nephews Tracy (Eric) Johnson, Peter (Deidre) Fuerst, Chris (Lisa) Fuerst, Amy (Andrew) Horrocks, Rodney Jr (Susan) Will, Stephen (Tanya) Will, and 13 great-nieces and nephews.
Arrangements for a Celebration of Life will be announced in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Ed's name to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Farnham, NY or the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.
Arrangements by the Addison Funeral Home, Angola, NY. Share your condolences at www.addisonfuneralhome.com.
Obituary from the Dunkirk Observer
