William Edwin Batton, age 89, passed away at his home in Columbus, Georgia surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, January 5, 2019. Funeral Services will be held at Striffler-Hamby, Columbus, in the Chapel at 11 am on Thursday January 10, 2019. A visitation of Family and Friends will be held from 10 am to 11 am prior to the service. A private interment will follow at Parkhill Cemetery.
Edwin was born on August 11, 1929 in Montezuma Georgia to William Bryant Batton and Faustine Joiner Batton. Edwin attended Montezuma grammar school and graduated from Montezuma high school in 1948. Edwin was captain of the 1948 State Championship basketball team, was State Hurdle and Pole Vault Champion and ran on the State Relay Team. Edwin attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in 1949 and 1950 on a basketball scholarship. He was named Mr. Abraham Baldwin and Most Athletic as selected by the student body. Edwin played on the team at ABAC that won the State Championship and went on to play in the National Championship game in Hutchinson, Kansas. Edwin was selected on March 2012 to the Abraham Baldwin athletic Hall of Fame.
Edwin and Betty Grace Virden were married January 4, 1951. They lived in Montezuma and then moved to Columbus where Ed worked for Georgia Power for 32 years. They were members of First Baptist Churches in Montezuma and Columbus. Ed was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends.
Edwin will always be remembered as a wonderful Christian man, loving husband, greatest of dad‘s and a good friend to everyone. Edwin was preceded in death by: his parents Bryant and Faustine Batton; and grandson Jaron Morgan Survivors include his loving wife Betty Grace of 67 years; sons Bill (Renee Lindsey and Paul), Russ (Shay Kylie, and Troy) six great grandchildren, Sister Carolyn Jones and many nieces and nephews.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Batton family.
