Obituary of Ed Van Whitchurch

Ed V. Whitchurch left this earthly home on October 25, 2016 to move on to a better home. Ed was born in Walco, Oklahoma on July 7, 1923 to Bill and Veneta Whitchurch. He grew up in the Bartlesville and Barnsdall area. On April 13, 1946 in Coffeyville, Kansas, he married Marcella Andrew and with this special union they began a legacy. This couple was blessed with four children Bernice, Connie, Eddie and John. Because of these children and the marriages that united them, a large and loving, close knit family was born. During his lifetime, Ed and Marcella enjoyed family camping trips to Kansas where Ed loved to set limb and trot lines, hoping to catch huge catfish. The grandkids best memories of those trips were going to the ponds to catch perch for bait. At the age of 19, Ed enlisted in the Navy and served on board the USS Conway during the Pacific Camp in World War II. While on board, he received 3 Bronze and 2 Silver Stars for major engagements. His adult life was spent in the oil services business. His proudest accomplishment was Helmco. LTD he started in 1962 in Kiefer. During this time, Ed employed numerous people and made friendships that have lasted a lifetime. He retired in 1985 at the age of 62. In his later years, Ed enjoyed “tinkering” with lawn mowers, which meant disassembling them, losing parts, and then having to enlist the help of others to try and put them back together. He was a long time member of the Community Freewill Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Marcella, of the home, his son Eddie Sr. and his wife Debbie of Kiefer, son John Whitchurch of Kiefer, 9 grandchildren 26 great-grandchildren and 6 great, great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, 3 sisters, 2 daughters, Bernice Duty and Connie Jo Selsor, son-in-law Paul Selsor and 1 grandson Paul Selsor, Jr. Funeral Services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 28, 2016 at Community Freewill Baptist Church in Kiefer. There will be no public viewing. The family has entrusted the services to the directors at Green Hill Funeral Home. 9182242312/www.greenhillok.com