Edward B. Gilpin, 96, of Wathena, Kansas passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at the Wathena Health Care Center. 

Ed was born on February 4, 1921 in Saxton, Missouri to parents, Charles S.Gilpin and Beatrice (Lower) Gilpin. Ed was from a family of 15 children and lived on a farm. He graduated from Pickett High School, St. Joseph, Missouri and married the love of his life, Dorothy (Stigers) Gilpin in 1940. They moved to Baltimore, Maryland where Ed attended an Aeronautical School and worked at the Glen Martin Airport. 
 

In 1943 Ed was drafted into the U.S. Navy during WWII, and set sail on the USS Saidor at which time he moved his family back to St. Joseph, Missouri to live with Dorothy’s parents. He was discharged in 1945 to return to his family and moved back to Baltimore. 
 

In 1948 Ed and (wife) Dorothy purchased the Wathena Chicken Hatchery and moved their family of six children to live in Wathena. He was in the hatchery business from 1948-1961, Wathena City Marshall and retired from Swafford Reality Company, where he worked with his nephew, Mark Gilpin. 

Ed was a member of the Masonic Lodge and American Legion Post 161 in Wathena, Kansas. He was a member of the Moila Shrine Temple in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was Past Commander of Legion of Honor. Ed never knew a stranger. 

Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, his parents, grandson, Todd Gilpin and a great-granddaughter, Malorie Adkins. 

Ed is survived by his son, Donald Gilpin of Corona, California; 
Daughters, Margie Twidwell of Topeka, Kansas; 
Carol Moddelmog of Fort Collins, Colorado; 
Edna Cherry of Albany, Missouri; 
Joanne McVey of Wathena, Kansas; 
Joyce Bottiger of Lenexa, Kansas; 
11 grandchildren and 26great-grandchildren and numerous great-great- grandchildren; 
Sisters, Mary Grayce Shaneck and Myrt Dunn; 
Brother, James Gilpin; 
Numerous nieces and nephews. 

Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Monday, February 27, 2017,  
at the First Baptist Church in Wathena, Kansas. 
Visitation: 5-7 Sunday evening at the Harman-Rohde Funeral Home in Wathena, Kansas. 
Friends may call after 9 A.M. Sunday. 
Burial: Bellemont Cemetery where there will be military honors under the auspices of the American Legion Post 161 and Masonic Committal Service. 
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Shriners Children Hospital, Wathena Healthcare Activities Fund or the Wathena EMS.