Edward Whiting Mather, Jr. passed away Thanksgiving evening, November 27, 2014 in Denton, Texas at the age of eighty-nine. Ed was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina and moved with his family to Knoxville, Tennessee when he was very young. There he attended school and participated in varsity athletics. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted and served as a Ranger in World War ll. The evening before D-Day he parachuted into Normandy with a contingent that was sent to stop a German Panzer Division from moving toward the invasion. When the war ended, Ed returned to Knoxville and enrolled in the University of Tennessee. There he played varsity basketball and football and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War serving with The 82nd Airborne Division as a First Lieutenant.

Ed's life was intensely focused on devotion to family. He was married to his wife, Jo, for sixty-two years. He is also survived by his daughters and sons-in law Susan and Mike Laue of College Station, Sharon and Eric Schweitzer of Highland Village, and Shirley and Tony Schafer of Denton. His grandchildren are John Laue, Hallie Schweitzer Girardeau, Sally Schweitzer, and Christopher and Lindsy Schafer. He has one great grandchild, Benjamin Girardeau. All blessed by his love understood he would willingly lay down his life for them.

A businessman at heart, his livelihood incorporated his passions for competition, work or play exceptionally well done, and sports. He was an ardent golfer and played well until he became ill when he was eighty-five. Prior to retiring he owned and operated Regency Maintenance Service in Denton. His other endeavors included the Gulf Oil Distributorship in Brenham, Texas; The Orange Tee, a nine-hole golf course, driving range and restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee; and a beer distributorship in Boerne, Texas. He also made friends throughout the country as sales manager for nationally branded companies and as manufacturers' representative for several golf clothing and equipment firms.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Delta Company Scholarship Fund of Texas A&M Foundation, PO Box 9512, College Station, Texas 77845. The beneficiaries are combat veterans students.

The Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 633 Hobson Lane, Denton, Texas 76205. A private Veteran Committal Service will be held at a later date at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.