After a courageous battle with cancer, Edward C. Benedict of Oak Harbor passed away with his loving family by his side Oct. 29, 2014, at the age of 77. He was born Aug. 18, 1937, in Cambridge, Neb., to Charles and Hazel (Feichter) Benedict.

Ed grew up on a farm and graduated from Wilsonville School, which housed grades 1-12.

A few years after graduation, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in Oak Harbor after 20 years of services. He served at various duty stations including two tours in Vietnam. Ed met Judith Roberts, and Dec. 24, 1960, in Belmont, Calif., they were married. The family welcomed two daughters, Colleen and Kim.

After retirement, Ed took up a number of hobbies, including raising Hampshire and Duroc hogs. On a number of occasions, he donated pigs for the pig scramble at the local rodeo. He also had a passion for automotive repair and became known as the “Pinto Man” for his love of the Ford Pinto. Even with poor vision, Ed still worked on cars and his favorite hobby, fixing Ford 9N tractors.

Ed is survived by his wife, Judith; daughters, Colleen Wolf and Kim (Radford) Benedict-Hembree, all of Oak Harbor; grandchildren, Nickolas, Matthew and Jeremy; and great-grandchildren, Cameron, Teagan, Ashton and Brody. Also surviving are sisters, Elaine Hidy and Barbara (Larry) Wolfe, of Nebraska, and Betty (Alfred) Cressler, of Kansas. Niece, Sherri Rahm, who served as a caretaker for Ed, also survives.

A memorial service for Ed will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at Wallin Funeral Home. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery, Seattle, Wash.

Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences in Ed’s Book of Memories on the funeral home website at www.wallinfuneralhome.com