Edgar (Ed) Maxwell Lamphear, 98, of Raquette Lake passed away on September 2, 2011 at Faxton St. Luke’s Health Care in New Hartford, NY.
Ed was born on April 27, 1913 in Indian Lake, NY to Orrin and Hazel McCane Lamphear.
He graduated from Raquette Lake High School in 1930.
Ed was drafted into the military in March, 1942. After basic training, he was promoted to Corporal and assigned to the Army Engineer Corp in Livingston, LA.
From there he was transferred to the Army Engineering Amphibian Command at Camp Edward, MA and later to Fort Ord, CA where he completed special training in commando tactics.
On February 6, 1944, while serving in the South Pacific in an invasion of New Britain in the Solomen Islands, he received wounds that would plague him the rest of his life.
Ed was awarded a Purple Heart for courageous and selfless military service during WW ll.
On March 23, 1946, Ed married Anna (Ann) Gibbs of Old Forge. He was a charter member of the Raquette Lake Volunteer Fire Department and served in many capacities.
He was a member of the Raquette Lake Chapel, the Raquette Lake Fish and Game Club and the North Woods Lodge # 849. Additionally, Ed was a 70-year-plus member of the Masons.
Except for his years in the Military, a stint in the CCC and a year in Alaska, Ed resided in Raquette Lake.
He was caretaker for many years at Baekeland Camp at Utawana Lake. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and guide.
Besides his wife Ann, he is survived by one sister, Jean Lamphear Beckingham and one sister-in-law, Doris Lamphear, as well as numerous nephews and nieces and several great and great-great nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his twin sister Edna Colligan, another sister Shirley Forsell, and brothers, Stanley, Jerry and Frank.
As per Ed’s wishes, there will be no services or calling hours. Anyone wishing to do so, may consider a donation to the Raquette Lake Fire and Ambu-lance Department in his memory.
Arrangements are with the Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home of Old Forge, NY.
