Edwin Bennett Bailey, 73, of Marlow died Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at his home in Marlow.
Services are planned for today (Thursday), July 15, at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Marlow, with Dr. Travis Muse officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral Home in Marlow.
Ed was born Monday, Nov. 9, 1936, in Duncan to Carl and Thelma (Fowler) Bailey. A lifelong resident of the Marlow area, he was reared by his grandparents, Mintie and Sam Bailey. He was 1950 graduate of Beaver Elementary School and graduated from Marlow High School in 1954, where he was involved in the FFA program for four years. Ed was baptized in 1954 at the First United Methodist Church of Marlow. He was in the Oklahoma National Guard, 45th Infantry Thunderbird Division, from 1953 to 1965. Ed married the former Gail Elliott on Oct. 5, 1956, in Marlow. In 1958, their daughter Julie was born.
Ed worked for SBC/AT&T for 36 years, retiring as an engineer in 1991. He was very involved in his community, serving as Marlow’s mayor and a city councilman; president of the Lions Club; and a member of the Ancient and Beneficent Order of the Red, Red Rose. He was the Marlow Chamber of Commerce’s Man of the Year in 1977. Ed was also involved with Marlow’s Hideout playground. He was a retired volunteer fireman and a Wichita Mountain volunteer, and served for 33 years on the board of directors of the Sooner Girl Scouts and camp development of the E-Ko-Wah and Kate camps. Ed was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Marlow.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jerry Bailey.
Survivors include his wife, Gail Bailey, of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Steve Myers of Oklahoma City; a sister and brother-in-law, Norma and Arnold Pointer of Reno, Nev.; two sisters-in-law, Georgia Hopper and husband John of Duncan, and Lynda Fritts of Claremore; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial contributions may be made to A Chance to Change Foundation, 5228 Classen Circle, Oklahoma City, OK 73118; the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund in Marlow; or the American Cancer Society or Relay for Life in Marlow, in care of Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral Home.