Eddie LeRoy Gawthrop, 66, Kimmell, passed away at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at IU Health Goshen Hospital. Born Sept. 5, 1949, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Thurman and Bonnie Gawthrop.

He grew up in Columbia City and graduated from Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of 1969. At the age of 9, Eddie had a paper route and went on to work for Weatherhead after high school. He retired after 30 years and also worked from 2005 until 2014 at Keystone when he retired for the second time.

Eddie had met Elsa Lopez at Maple Leaf. They would go on to be married on March 22, 2013. Before his dad passed away they would hunt and fish together. In his spare time, he enjoyed being outdoors, cutting wood, tending to his fruit trees, spending time with his family, playing with his puppies and raising their chickens. He also enjoyed taking his wife for a ride on his Harley Davidson and restoring his Camaro cars. Eddie was a member of the Sons of American Legion.

Survivors include his wife: Elsa Gawthrop; mother: Bonnie Whittecar, Columbia City; sister: Linda (Frnak) Maggard, Columbia City; daughter: Deanne (Roderick) Blankenship, Leesburg; son: Stoney Gawthrop, North Webster; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 1-4:45 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, Columbia City with his service starting at 5 p.m. Memorials may be made in Eddie’s memory to Goshen Hospice.