Edgar M. Britt

Edgar M. Britt Edgar M. Britt, 94, of Hilton Head, and formerly of Greensboro, NC and Summit, NJ, died on March 13, 2013. Ed is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 70 years, Betty; his two sons, Wade and Jon, and their wives, Louise and Sue; 4 grandchildren, Megan Britt (Greg Pagnini), Elizabeth Ross (Dan), Ned Britt (Lisa), and Pete Britt; 2 great grandchildren, Emma Rose Ross and Luca Gray Pagnini; and his nephew, Ned Britt Smith (Sandra) and his two nieces, Joyce Watt Harmon (John) and Carol Smith Strittmatter (Warren). Ed was born in East Bend, NC on August 23, 1918. He lived in Winston-Salem, NC for many years, graduating from Reynolds High School and then going on to earn a degree in textile engineering from North Carolina State University in 1939. He served in the U.S. Army before, during and after World War II, achieving the rank of Major, ending his service in Japan during the United States Occupation. He returned home to Winston-Salem after the War, and to his wife Betty whom he had married in 1943. He joined Western Electric Company with whom he spent his entire professional career. He advanced through increasing levels of responsibility, working in a wide variety of roles and locations, including North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Baltimore and Atlanta, attaining the title of General Manager. He retired in 1978 and moved to Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island, where he spent 35 glorious years of retirement with Betty. As a true Renaissance man who was always interested in virtually everyone and everything he encountered, he was able to pursue all of his old and newfound passions: gardening, particularly his prolific roses; golf; woodworking, making furniture, toys and spectacular doll houses for his children and grandchildren; traveling with Betty around the world; cooking, especially baking breads of all types; and mastering computer skills. Above all, he devoted most of his time and effort to Betty, to whom he was never able to say no, and to the rest of his family and friends, traveling around the country to attend as many activities and events as he could that his grandchildren were involved in. The family will hold a reception to honor and celebrate Ed's life at the Tide Pointe Clubhouse in Hilton Head, on Saturday, March 16 from 5pm to 7pm. A private burial service will be held earlier that day at Six Oaks Cemetery in Sea Pines. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Betty and Ed Britt Scholarship Endowment that supports deserving students at Duke University who are from North and South Carolina. Checks, payable to Duke University, may be sent to Duke University Alumni and Development Records, Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708-0581. The Island Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. www.theislandfuneralhome.com.