Edwin Ball Etheredge

SALUDA - Mr. Edwin Ball Etheredge, born August 11, 1920 died December 19,2011 at the age of 91 in Greensboro, NC. He will be remembered as being a kind and affable gentlemen with a keen sense of humor, who adored his family, especially his two grandsons.

A native of Saluda, South Carolina, he was the son of the late Martha Sue Padget Etheredge and George Otis Etheredge. He was predeceased by his brothers, George Mason Etheredge and Otis "Ci-Ci" Hammond Etheredge. Survivors include his wife of nearly 50 years, Martha Carolyn Chapman Etheredge and their son, Alvin Michael Etheredge and wife, Sue Gooden Etheredge, along with grandsons Samuel McDuffie Etheredge and Daniel Hammond Etheredge of Jamestown, NC. He is also survived by 8 nieces and nephews, 13 great nieces and nephews and 8 great-great nieces and nephews.

Mr. Etheredge experienced a unique childhood having lived part of his life in Saluda, South Carolina, Staten Island, New York and Genoa, Italy. He graduated from Curtis High School in Staten Island, New York and studied mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). During World War II, he was involved in surveying and acquiring land for the development of an air force base for training military pilots to support the war effort near Columbia, South Carolina, which later became the site for the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

Following the war, Mr. Etheredge worked for the US Soil Conservation Service in Saluda County working with farmers to install terraces, build ponds and institute soil erosion control measures. Meanwhile, he implemented many of these soil conservation measures on the family farm (Valfa Farms) along with his father, George. Valfa Farms became a dairy farm focusing on raising Guernsey cattle and sold milk to Edisto Farms and later Coburg Dairy in Charleston, SC. Mr. Etheredge ran the dairy farm for 40 years and later converted the farm to raise Angus beef cattle.

Mr. Etheredge was an avid reader, renowned storyteller, historian, conservationist and gardener, especially well known for growing tomatoes and cantaloupes. He was a member of various organizations including the Saluda County Historical Society, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, SC Farm Bureau, Saluda County Cattleman's Association and was a lifelong member of Red Bank Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends and family on Tuesday, December 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Whitehall and the memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 28 at 2:00 pm at Red Bank Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to the Saluda County Historical Society, P.O. Box 22, Saluda, SC 29138 or Red Bank Baptist Church, 309 E. Church St., Saluda, SC 29138.

Ramey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.