PROFFITT, EDWARD E.

Edward [June 5, 2012] was born in Saltville, Virginia in 1919 to Emma and John Edward Proffitt. He was the only male child who survived from a family of fifteen children. Ed enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the beginning of World War II and volunteered to become a 1st Marine Edson Raider attached to Charlie Company. He was at Guadalcanal, was wounded and awarded a Gold Star and a Purple Heart. His Creed was “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

After the war he enjoyed the love of life. He worked for Safeway headquarters as a produce manager for many years and helped introduce plastic bags into the industry. He was a public servant, past president of the Castro Valley Masonic Lodge and a member of Eastern Star for 50 years. A DeMolay coach for basketball, a member of Toastmasters and acted in quite a few plays in the Castro Valley area. He loved golf and at 82 years he shot a 69 at the Hayward Golf Course. He was a man of God and for 50 years a member of the Methodist Church. He loved the friendship he found with the congregation and served as a Greeter. As a boy and in his adult life, Ed was always mischievous, high spirited and loved to play card and board games with an eye for winning and did not always like to lose.

He was a family man preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Mary Wilson and sisters Leona Davidson, Irene Coe and Evelyn Rolen. He is survived by sisters Polly Arnold, Billie Holmes, Mary Katherine Barrett and Penny Hutchins. His children, Judy Roda, James Proffitt, Joyce Barros and Janeen Leech. He will be missed by his nine loving grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

His family invites you to celebrate his life. A visitation will be at Grissom’s Chapel and Mortuary, 267 E. Lewelling Blvd., San Lorenzo, on Wednesday, June 13th from 10:00 am to 12:00pm. A Funeral service will follow at the Castro Valley Methodist Church, 19806 Wisteria St., Castro Valley, at 1:00 pm. He will be interred at Saltville, Virginia.