Edwin Charles “Ed” Robertson, 66, died Aug. 25, 2013, at his home in Hanna, IN.
He was born June, 6, 1947, in Logansport, IN, to Ray and Rosella (Zinn) Robertson.
Ed grew up in Fowler, IN, graduating from Fowler High School in 1966. He continued his education, receiving a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Grace College, Winona Lake, IN, in 1970, and a master’s degree from Purdue University, West Lafayette, in 1975.
Ed joined the Indiana National Guard in 1970, retiring after 35 years. He was the recipient of the Academic Saber Award after achieving the No. 1 academic honor in his OCS class in 1979. His military service included numerous awards and medals, including the Indiana Commendation Medal in 1988 for his leadership and exceptional meritorious service resulting in a high ranking of his unit. In 2003 he retired from the military, achieving the rank of major.
Ed began his teaching career in the Michigan City School Corporation in 1971 and in 1974, relocated to his hometown of Fowler to teach in the Benton Community School Corporation. He started out as the planetarium director, seeing every elementary student in the corporation multiple times during the year. He also taught astronomy, social studies, general science, and a variety of computer classes while at Benton Central. He became heavily involved in the inception of computers into the corporation and soon became the computer consultant. He taught at Benton Central for 22 years. In 1996 Ed became the full-time technology director at East Porter County School Corporation, and then in 2000 he accepted the technology director position at Knox Community Schools, where he worked until his retirement from public schools. Even in his retirement, he had the itch to stay involved with technology and ended up working as an instructor at ITT Tech, South Bend, IN. He later became chair of the School of Technology. He loved his time at ITT Tech and in 2012 received the Instructor of the Year Award.
Ed married his college sweetheart, Margaret “Margie” Biddinger, in 1970 in Michigan City, IN. They were happily married for 43 years. Ed’s loves were his family and especially being the doting “Papa” to his one grandchild, Willie. His hobbies included anything involving technology. He had a curious mind and loved to figure out how things worked. He was a member of Liberty Bible Church, Chesterton, IN, where he was nurtured in his strong faith in Jesus Christ.
Ed was preceded in death by a brother, Neal Robertson (1989), and his father, Ray Robertson (2012).
Ed is survived by his wife; his son, Wesley (Karri) Robertson of Flint, MI; his sisters, Elaine (Tom) Ballard of North Port, FL, Nancy (Paul) Holekamp of Boerne, TX, and Sheila (Skip) Collins of Durban, South Africa; his brother, Scott Robertson of Fowler, IN; one precious grandson, William Robertson; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Cutler Funeral Home, LaPorte, at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30. Visitation will be Friday from 4 p.m. until the service. Cremation has taken place; burial of ashes with a military graveside service will be held at noon Saturday, Aug. 31, at Tippecanoe Memorial Gardens, West Lafayette, IN. (All times are Central Standard Time).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the LaLucia Baby House, a home for abandoned and orphaned babies in Durban, South Africa. It operates from the home of Sheila and Skip Collins, Ed’s sister and brother-in-law. Tax-deductible gifts may be made in Ed’s memory through Unitas International, PO Box 506, Shirley, IN 47384, Reference: Baby House.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.