Edward John Bair, Sr. (Pop Pops), 95, resident of Lakeland, Florida, passed Thursday October 25, 2018 in Lakeland, Florida. He was born May 27, 1923 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, son of Martha Alice Esworthy (Nee Kilgore) and William Lawrence Lee.
He graduated from McCaskey High School, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and attended Franklin and Marshall College for civil engineering before being called to service in WWII in 1943. He served as a radio operator, received commendation as a sharpshooter, and an honorable discharge in 1946. In February 1946, he married Betty Rae Bair in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Edward began a career in visual design at Pomeroy’s department store after the war and continued representing visual design companies to department stores in the Southeast. Along with his wife, he was a repeat winner of Ball Masque in Harrisburg, PA, an avid boater and archer, entrepreneur and barbershop, choral and solo singer.
Edward is survived by children Karen Glisson (Michael); Cindy Silberman (Eric), grandchildren Vanessa (Justin), Kelly, Brandon (Sarah), Christopher (Erica); great-grandchildren, Jackson, Mason, Wilson, Elliot; sister: Fay Mango, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Our beloved father, brother and grandfather is now reunited with his wife of 70 years, Betty Rae Bair and sons, Edward John Bair, Jr. and Robert Ray Bair, and sister Romayne June Lee Fisher.
A Celebration of Edward's Life will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Cork UMC, 4815 Sam Allen Rd, Plant City, FL 33565. Graveside ceremony and interment will occur in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at a later date.
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