Edwin Lee Stenzel

Edwin Lee Stenzel was born on March 27, 1926 to Edward and Anne Stenzel. He passed away on Jan. 3, 2011. While growing up in East Saint Louis, IL, he worked in the stock yards and on the L&N Railroad. He became an Eagle Scout and played the sousaphone in the high school band. After one semester of college, he was drafted into the Navy. Following an honorable discharge as a Radioman 2/C in 1946, Ed went on to earn a BS in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, MO and began his career with the Dow Chemical Co. in Texas. <br />In 1949, he met his future wife, Gloria, on a blind date, while she was studying to be an RN. They were married in 1952 and were blessed with two boys and three girls. The years 1950 to 1969 were spent in engineering and plastic production. He was licensed as a professional engineer in the states of Missouri and Texas. In 1969 they moved to Williamsburg, VA so Ed could oversee a joint venture operation of Dow and BASF of Germany. He started as the Plant Manager of Acrylic Fibers Operation and eventually became the President of Dow Badische in 1976. After transferring to New Jersey in 1979, he was named President of the Chemicals Division of BASF and Executive VP of BASF North American Corp., as well as a Member of their Board of Directors. <br />Upon Ed's retirement in 1988, he devoted his time to a multitude of organizations including: volunteering as an executive with the International Executive Service Corps (living for three sixmonth intervals in Poland and Russia); serving on the&nbsp; American Cancer Society Board, the United Way Board, the Board of Directors of Williamsburg Landing, the Administrative Board of the United Methodist Church in VA, serving as a member of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, tutoring incarcerated youth and as Deacon of the United Community Church in SCC. <br />Ed was passionate about golf, Dixieland music, and gardening. He also enjoyed the Radio and Computer Clubs, woodworking and taking bridge lessons. Most of all, he loved spending time with his beloved wife and family. He was a loving and devoted husband to his wife of 58 years, Gloria Stenzel. He is also survived by sons: Richard of Stafford, VA; Thomas (Linda) of Columbus, NC; and daughters: Barbara Stenzel of Lexington, KY; Lynne (Tom) Eckerson of Tampa, FL; Elizabeth (Todd) Hunnicutt of Columbia, SC; and six granddaughters: Meghan, Erin and Jennifer Stenzel, Kylie Eckerson, and Madeline and Sydney Hunnicutt. <br />Ed Stenzel was a kind and generous man whose qualities as a husband, father and friend were unmatched. He will always be remembered and will always live in our hearts as we treasure the time spent with him. <br />Memorial contributions: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148.