Edward Clayton Pollard

Edward Clayton Pollard, lovingly known as "Uncle Ed," passed away on April 11, 2026, at the age of 89, after a short battle with cancer. He spent his final days in the care of the dedicated team at the Durham Veterans Medical Center, whose kindness and compassion brought great comfort to him and his family.
Born on June 24, 1936, in Baltimore, Maryland, Ed was the third son of Jesse Benjamin Pollard and Blanche Catherine Pugh. He grew up with his brothers Jesse Benjamin Pollard Jr. and Floyd Gibbons Pollard, both of whom preceded him in death.
At 18, Ed proudly joined the U.S. Marines and was stationed at Camp LeJeune in 1954. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Maryland where he worked as a print setter and devoted himself to his greatest passion — fishing. Whether casting lines in the Chesapeake Bay or competing in tournaments across its tributaries, Ed collected patches, stories, and friendships along the way. Later in life, he found joy fishing at Conowingo Dam, where the fish may or may not have feared him by name.
When he wasn't on the water, Ed could be found cheering on the Baltimore Orioles, tinkering with his metal detector around his home near Rising Sun, or ensuring his freezer was fully stocked with ice cream — a personal priority he took very seriously.
Ed married the love of his life, Viola "Violet" Dalton Pollard, and though he became a widower in 1995, he carried her memory with him. He will be laid to rest beside her in Parkwood Cemetery's Garden of Honor in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday, June 13 at 12 pm, with full military honors.
In recent years, Ed made his home in Clarksville, Virginia, where he embraced small-town life with the same enthusiasm he brought to everything else. He rode his golf cart around town, tended his garden with pride, and spent countless peaceful hours on his porch watching the birds and the steady rhythm of life along Rose Hill Avenue.
To celebrate his life, an Ice Cream Social Memorial will be held in his honor on Wednesday, May 6 at 2 pm at the Clarksville Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall — a tribute he would surely approve of, especially if sprinkles are involved.
Though Ed had no children of his own, he filled the role of uncle, neighbor, and friend with generosity and humor. He lived simply, loved deeply, and found joy in everyday life, a life well-lived and well-loved.
Please contact his niece Michelle Hektor at [email protected] If you would like additional details about the ice cream social or funeral.