Edwin Walter Deering, age 99 ¼, passed away on April 8 th 2022 in Clearwater, Florida. He & his twin brother Edward were born on January 7 th , 1923 in Lovell, Wyoming to Lillian (Ailman) Deering Hurlbut and Ralph Deering. He was raised in Marion, Indiana by his mother, grandmother, and aunt after the death of his father in 1927. He graduated from Marion High School in 1940 and went on to serve in the Indiana National Guard & United States Army for 4 ½ years during WWII, during which time he lost his twin brother in the sinking of the USS Strong in 1943. After the war, Ed followed his newly remarried mother & step father, Homer Hurlbut, to Elyria, Ohio, where he met & married his beloved wife, Virginia 'Gini' Schmittgen. He attended Ball State before transferring to Baldwin Wallace University to complete his studies. After college he went on to have a career as a Boy Scout Executive in Elyria, Akron, Chillicothe, and Columbus, Ohio before becoming the Executive Director of the Columbus Apartment Association until his retirement in 1987. After retirement he & Gini became snowbirds, splitting their time between their homes in Columbus, Ohio and Seminole, Florida. They also continued to serve the community as summer volunteers in Ohio state parks from 1987-1999. After "retiring" from park volunteer service, they made their summer residence at a private campground in Logan, Ohio while continuing to spend winters in Florida. In his final years, Ed spent most of his time living with his daughter-in-law, Cindy, in Columbus, Ohio, but made trips to his Florida residence whenever possible. Ed was a committed Lutheran and man of faith. He attended Bethany Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Largo, Florida. He was a lifelong Kiwanian, with over five decades of perfect attendance.

Ed was preceded in death by his father, Ralph; brother, Edward; an infant son; stepfather, Homer Hurlbut; mother, Lillian Hurlbut; grandsons, Scott Howell & Glenn Howell Jr; son, Edward; and wife, Gini. He is survived by his daughter & son-in law, Kathi & Glenn Howell, of Hope, New Jersey; daughter-in-law Cynthia Deering of Columbus, Ohio; Four grandchildren: Brent & Justin Howell of Hope, New Jersey, Sarah (Deering) Gadjigo of Oak Harbor, Washington, Ted Deering of Columbus, Ohio, and one great-grandchild, Lucien Howell. A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Monday, April 11, 2022 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (455 Missouri Ave Largo, FL 33770).

A Columbus Memorial Service to be held at Bethany Lutheran Church, 1000 Noe Bixby Road, on Friday, November 18 at 11:00. Following Edwin's service he and his beloved wife Gini who predeceased him on 12-3-2015 will be inurned together at The Lithopolis Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Kiwanis Seminole Breakfast Club (kiwanisseminolebreakfast.com).

Despite his advanced age, Ed remained forever young at heart. He was an entertainer with the gift of the gab, always ready to share a story or a joke with any who would listen. As a true extrovert, he enjoyed any chance to get out of the house and socialize or go on an adventure. In the last months of his life he rode a roller coaster, went to the beach, fished, flew a kite, & remained a sharp Euchre player.  He will be dearly missed by his family and friends, who will remember him for the twinkle in his blue eyes, love of Bloody Marys, ice cream, and frosties, devotion to the Ohio State buckeyes, and adoration of his wife Gini's beautiful singing voice. He lived life to the fullest, and in his own famous words: "Well, I enjoyed it."

By the way, have you heard the sad story about the peanuts? Two peanuts walked into a bar… and one of them was a salted.