Edson Leroy Finkenbiner, 91, Warsaw, died unexpectedly Friday afternoon, May 13, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona.

He was born in Wabash Oct. 16, 1924 to Bertha Mae (Bowman) and Arthur Clinton Finkenbiner.  He was the youngest of seven children. On Sept. 11, 1948 he married Valencia Veronica Kissinger in Hammond, she survives in Warsaw.

Edson graduated from Linlawn High School of Wabash in 1942. He served his country in the United States Army as a Tech 5 in the Detached Engineers Section during WWII.  He was in the European Theatre for three years. Also, he was awarded five bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal, and a Victory Medal.  Edson was a Life Member of the VFW Post #1126 and a member of the American Legion Post # 49 both of Warsaw.

After returning home from the war he moved to Warsaw (the town he loved and never left) from Wabash and worked for his sister’s business the Double-Dip. After briefly studying business at Defiance College he went on to become a salesman for the West Bend Company.  He later became a distributor for West Bend and founded the Kitchen Craft Warsaw Company which he owned for 50 years.

He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Warsaw where he served as an usher for a number of years.  Ed was one of the founding members of the Rozella Ford Golf Course in 1959. He and his wife, Valencia, were avid golfers, and were also members of Stonehenge Golf Club and Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. He went on to win a number of club championships at all three clubs.

Ed was a very generous and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He has left his family with many cherished and valuable memories.

In addition to his wife, Valencia, he is survived by three children: Victoria (husband Roger) Sellers (Silver Lake); Nicolette (husband Kenneth) Chapman (Goshen); and Kim (wife Vickie) Finkenbiner (North Webster). He also leaves behind twelve grandchildren: Michelle DeLaCruz, Chad Sellers, Caleb Chapman, Elissa Goldner, Rinnah Chapman, Amanda Neely, Silas Chapman, Reah Neely, Anna Chapman, Jesse Chapman, Kacy McClelland, and Kelsy Finkenbiner; twenty-one great-grandchildren, Dakotah Shepherd, Isaac and Brooklynn Sellers, Kayla, Karli, Kristin, Darren, and Kaitlyn Chapman, John Goldner, Liza, Tyler, Trevor, Travis, Christina, Brett, and Riley Neely, Allison Chapman, Myra, Cole, and Denae Neely, and Kamron Richardson.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by six siblings, and one great-grandson.

Visitation will be held from 3– 7 p.m. Friday, May 20 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw,

His funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 21 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1720 E. Center Street, Warsaw, and officiated by Reverend Michael Mueller.

Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw with military rites conducted by the American Legion Post #49, V.F.W. # 1126 both of Warsaw and active members of the Indiana ARNG Honor Guard.

Memorial donations in Edson’s name may be directed to the American Cancer Society, 601 West Edison Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545; American Legion Post #49, 301 N. Buffalo Street, Warsaw, IN  46580; Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1720 E. Center Street, Warsaw, IN 46580; or to Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E. Market Street, Warsaw, IN 46580 or online atwww.kcfoundation.org/donate.

 Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s Web Site at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com