Edward “Ed” Stuart Elam, 86, passed peacefully April 7, 2022 at his new home. His devoted wife Sylvia, family, and extended family of caring angels and friends at Briar Creek Health Center were by his side.
Born in Charlotte to the late Frank and Katherine Elam, he attended North Meck High School and continued to connect with classmates regularly for most of his life. After serving his country as a pilot in the Air Force he graduated from NC State University as a mechanical engineer, returned to Charlotte where he married Sylvia Smith, and remained happily married for more than 60 wonderful years.
Following his father and father-in-law into Freemasonry, he made Steele Creek #737 his home base and was active in other lodges including James K Polk Pineville, Bakersville, and Beaufort SC. The traditional Masonic words “he laid down his working tools” are surely appropriate because he never stopped working. He was ALWAYS busy designing, building, inventing, and problem solving which may be why he had a special fondness for a place called Loafers Glory NC.
If cluttered desks and eccentricities prove brilliance, then Ed was a genius. Most everyone who knew Ed says they learned something from him, especially graduates (survivors) of his famous (infamous) stay-in-school program. As a general contractor he developed the first commercial condominiums in the state and built homes for his family, but his favorite building projects were churches and schools during mission trips to Haiti and the NC mountains.
Ed was proud of his unique status as a native Charlottean dating back to the original settlers of Mecklenburg County. While he loved family history and making family connections, he still had plenty of room for new friends from all over the world. He especially loved meeting people of countries, cultures, and traditions different from his own and truly believed he was fluent in several languages despite the eyerolls from his girls. Ed liked to adopt every place he visited as home and always blurred lines between family and friends, filling his heart with people like he filled his barn with tools and gadgets. From Alaska to Israel and places in between, he had many grand adventures and even a few misadventures (like being not-so-gently warned out of restricted airspace by fighter jets while flying his plane near Cape Canaveral).
A homebody at heart Ed was always happy to make the final approach to the sanctuary of home where his favorite place to land was deck, porch, or pier, enjoying wildlife and quietly planning the next project in his head. Closer to home he enjoyed restoring classic cars, sharing vegetables from his garden, feeding crowds with his big barbeque cooker, and entertaining with Ed-isms and anecdotes. He liked to reminisce about the days when “downtown” meant uptown Charlotte or main street Pineville, HWY 51 was a two-lane country road, and Lake Wylie was “the river.” Often with a mischievous grin he loved to tell personal stories peppered with absolutes and exaggerations, but those closest to him know the crazier the story, the more likely it was to be 100% true.
A master practitioner of sustainable living well before the trend, he never bought new when he could repair the old (or have Sylvia patch the old when it came to his wardrobe, again with eye rolls from his girls.) Never pretentious in his old clothes and old trucks, he wore “old school” like a badge of honor, often bragging he never turned on a computer or texted. He was a master of many subjects yet endearingly ignorant on pop culture and the latest fashions and fads, unfazed by status or celebrity. He once spent a long flight sharing snacks and stories with the “nice lady” next to him oblivious his travel companion was a famous actress, Cybill Shepherd.
From very humble beginnings Ed and Sylvia worked hard together to raise a family and have successful careers, quietly giving away most of what they earned to others. Ed firmly believed in the basic goodness of all people and was always willing to give someone a second chance, even at the risk of personal loss.
He was welcomed into his heavenly home by loved ones including his young son Mark, his sister-in-law Barbara Smith Bonds, his nephew Jack Phillips, and his great-nephew Justin Elam.
Left to cherish Ed’s memory are his treasured family of relations and friends including his wife Sylvia, daughters and sons-in-law Alys and Kurt Kuchenbrod and Ann and Jim Mason, and beloved grandchildren Morgan, Thomas and Kathryn Smith Kuchenbrod; the families of his brothers and Sylvia’s sisters Jimmy and Carey Jo Elam, Ardie and Darlene Banker, Bill and Jean White, Flint Bonds, Donna and Ronnie Alley; and his wingman Don Heiges.
A service to celebrate Ed's life will be held from the graveside at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 18th at Sharon Memorial Park. The Reverend Talbot Davis will officiate. Masonic rites will also be rendered. For those wishing to attend, please enter the gate to the cemetery located at the corner of Monroe Road and Sharon Amity. Keep left and the gravesite will be on the left.
Memorials are requested to be sent to Good Shepherd Church, 13110 Moss Road, Charlotte, NC 28112.
Condolences may be offered at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.
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