Mr. Edward T. Canning

On Monday, June 21, 2010, Edward T. Canning, 91, passed away peacefully, at Gladeview Health Care Center of Old Saybrook. Formerly, he was a resident of Guilford, CT and Barefoot Bay, FL. He was the husband of the late Eva Canning, who predeceased him five years ago. Edward was born in New Haven on Aug. 26, 1918, son of the late Peter and Elizabeth Pryor Canning. On March 11, 1941, he was drafted into the Army as a private and later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. During World War II, while serving in the European Theater, he was promoted to Captain and served as Company Commander of a Combat Engineer Company. In addition to campaign ribbons and two Battle Stars, he received the Bronze Star, the Czechoslovakian War Cross, and two commendations from the 9th US Army, and the British 2nd Army commanders, for bridging the Rhine – Roer – Elbe Rivers. In December of 1946 he was honorably discharged from the Army as a Major in the Army Corps of Engineers. After his war service, he worked as a union electrician with the Local # 90 IBEW in New Haven for 32 years. Ed retired in 1983 and was a member of the Local #90 Retirees Club, an honorary lifetime member of the Eagle Hose Fire Company in Guilford and a member of the American Legion. He leaves daughters, Barbara (William) Skelly of Guilford, Maybeth (David) Zuber of Madison and a son, Peter (Marie) Canning of Berlin, NH and Guilford, CT. Also survived by his brother, Robert (Elaine) Canning of North Branford and five grandchildren, Judith Anderson, Daniel Skelly, Joya Zuber, Heather Canning and Ashley Canning; five great grandchildren, Nicole and Delaney Skelly, Josie and Palmer Anderson, Lexi Canning Williams; and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by brother Frank Canning and sister Ruth Lyons. Ed brought his family great joy and will be deeply missed. He will now join his wife Eva, his Angel in Heaven. Private burial services with military honors will take place in Alder Brook Cemetery, Guilford. Memorial donations can be made to Gladeview Health Care Center, Recreation Fund, 60 Boston Post Rd, Old Saybrook, CT 06475 or to Masonic Home Health and Hospice, 33 N. Plains Industrial Rd, Wallingford, CT 06492. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford. For more information or to send an on-line condolence please visit, www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com