Edward Ellsworth Laughlin
Page edited 30-Dec-22. KT
Born on September 8, 1915 in Henry County, Indiana. He was one of three children, and the oldest son, of Donel Laughlin and Mabel Anne Tapscott.
Description
He was slim of build and of average stature (5 foot nine inches.) He had red hair, blue eyes and for most of his life he wore a small mustache.
Early Years
- Childhood
- Siblings
Education
Ed graduated from Trotwood High School in Trotwood, Montgomery County, Ohio. Because the family moved often during his childhood, he was fond of reminding his family that he attended eleven schools in twelve years. Known schools included:
- Homer Indiana Primary School, Homer, Rush County, Indiana
- West Carrollton City Schools, West Carrollton, Montgomery County, Ohio
- Vandalia City Schools, Vandalia, Montgomery County, Ohio
- Fairmont High School, Kettering, Montgomery County, Ohio
- Trotwood High School, Trotwood, Montgomery County, Ohio
Religion
He was baptized (converted) into the Catholic faith in 1941 so that he could marry Mary Virginia Kamenish, his future bride.
Civilian Conservation Corps
Edward served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
Military Service Years
EM2 Edward Ellsworth Laughlin served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was stationed at the Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia. He served as an Electrician's Mate, 2nd Class. He was honorably discharged after three years.
Military Service(s): U.S. Navy
Family Years
Married Mary Virginia Kamenish on August 11, 1941 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. The couple had five children: four boys - Michael Edward, Joseph Daniel, Patrick Anthony and Mark Stephen, and one girl - Mary Cathleen.
The couple had five children:
- Michael Edward Laughlin
- Joseph Daniel Laughlin
- Patrick Anthony Laughlin
- Mark Stephen Laughlin
- Mary Cathleen Laughlin
After the death of his first wife "Ginny," Edward married Betty T. Turner on December 3, 1983. The couple had no children. The couple later divorced.
Residences
- Henry County, Indiana
- Rush County, Indiana
- West Alex Bell Road, West Carrolton, Montgomery County, Ohio (Valentine Winters Family Farm)
- National Road, Vandalia, Montgomery County, Ohio
- Mary Avenue, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio
- 16 Rainbow Drive, Kettering, Montgomery County, Ohio
- Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia
- Roxanna-New Burlington Road, Warren County, Ohio
- Stewart Street, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio
- 16 Kratochwill Street, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio
- Powder Horn Mountain Road, Deep Gap, Watauga County, North Carolina
- Blowing Rock, Watauga County, North Carolina
- Marshall Road, Kettering, Montgomery County, Ohio
- Walnut Creek Assisted Living, Kettering, Montgomery County, Ohio
Working Years
- Edward worked at numerous jobs during his lifetime.
- He worked for Grismer Tire Center in Dayton, Ohio.
- He worked as a meter reader for Dayton Power and Light, also in Dayton.
- Also, for several years he was a "milkman," delivering Moler's Belmont Dairy products to homes throughout the Dayton area.
- He later worked briefly for Bowser-Morner Testing Laboratories, testing soil for construction projects.
- His last position while living in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio was with the City of Kettering, OH Department of Parks and Recreation. He supervised a large crew during a period of extensive growth for the city's parks system and oversaw the development and landscaping of numerous city parks and green spaces.
- Upon retirement from the City of Kettering, he took a position at Powder Horn Mountain in Triplett, (Watauga County) North Carolina. He served as a golf course greenskeeper, a realtor and rental property manager.
Business Ventures
Owned and operated Ed Laughlin Realty in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio and later in Deep Gap, Watauga County, North Carolina.
Personal Life
Edward enjoyed hunting, particularly rabbits with his trusty beagle, Jack. His true passion was fishing. He enjoyed fly fishing in the lakes and streams in the mountains of North Carolina, as well as surf fishing and flounder gigging on the North Carolina coast. Ed also enjoyed cooking the fish he caught. He could filet any fish, no matter how small. After moving to Watauga County, North Carolina, he drove to visit his family in Ohio for Christmas each year with his season's catch nicely frozen and packed in order to provide delicious fish for the Laughlin family's annual Christmas Eve fish fry.
Stories and Remembrances
Edward was a prolific storyteller. He had many fond memories of life in rural Indiana and was always willing to share his experiences with anyone who would listen. Before his death, he gave several handwritten stories about his childhood to his daughter, Mary Cathleen (Katie) Laughlin Timko. These stories, in his own words, can be found from the link below:
Death
Edward died from pneumonia on January 10, 2009 at Hospice of Dayton in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.
He was cremated and his remains were buried in 2009 at Powder Horn Mountain Cemetery in Watauga County, North Carolina.