Edward Elkinson ... enjoyed woodworking; at 86

ROCHESTER - Edward Walter Elkinson, 86, of Rochester, died peacefully at his home surrounded by family after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Ed, as he preferred to be called, was born in Woonsocket, R.I. on Jan. 6, 1937, the son of Joseph E. and Stella L. (Such) Elkinson. He spent his childhood years growing up in Worcester, Mass. He graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1961. He then married Lorraine Marie Pelletier, and immediately following their wedding, they moved to Europe, where he served in the Army. While in the military, they lived in France and Germany for four years where their three children were born. They returned to the U.S. and lived in Augusta, Ga., where he taught at Officer Candidate School.

After Ed was discharged from the Army, he and his family settled in Rochester in 1966. He worked as an Electrical Engineer for General Electric in Somersworth, and Waltham and Westborough, Mass. He completed an MBA at Northeastern University in 1974 while working at GE.

Among his many hobbies, Ed enjoyed camping, woodworking, and antique automobile restoration. He participated in the Boy Scouts while his children were in the program. He couldn't pass up a game of cribbage.

Ed was always involved in a home project. On the weekends, he could be found building a garage, shingling a roof, doing electrical work, welding, making furniture, or repairing his travel trailer. If something needed to be fixed or built, he would do the work himself. He enjoyed the physical work and challenged himself to learn something new.

Ed was an avid reader of books and newspapers, understanding current and past events. He would have been the choice "phone a friend" for the toughest question of any trivia show.

Ed and Lorraine believed in the importance of education and encouraged their children and grandchildren to go to college, which they all did, and some have even completed graduate school.

Ed is predeceased by Lorraine, his loving wife of 60 years. He is also predeceased by both of his parents and his brother, Chester Elkinson.

He is survived by his three sons, Mark and his wife Liz of Saco, Maine; Brian and his wife Audrey of Barrington, and Keith and his wife Chris of North Grosvenordale, Conn.

Ed is also survived by his sister Elaine Bolivar of Auburn, Mass. and his four grandchildren, Robert Elkinson, Andrew Elkinson, Marissa Elkinson, and Alexis Elkinson.