Carl B. Edelin, Jr.

It is with broken hearts and profound sadness that we share the passing of Carl B. Edelin, Jr., age 79, of Lewes, Delaware, who went to be with the Lord on June 13, 2026.

Born on November 3, 1946, in Washington, D.C., Carl was the firstborn child of the late Carl B. Edelin, Sr. and Anna Mills Edelin, and the cherished grandson of the late William Richard Edelin, Sr. and Emma Jane Butler Edelin. Throughout his life, Carl also resided in Potomac, Maryland, and Middletown, Delaware. As a young boy growing up in Wheaton, Maryland, he was a faithful member of St. Catherine Labouré Church, where he served as an altar server and attended the Catholic elementary school. Energetic and disciplined from a young age, he played youth football and basketball, and graduated middle school from Leonard Hall Military School in Leonardtown, Maryland, in 1961. After graduating from Wheaton High School with the Class of 1965, Carl went on to pursue three highly successful career paths: as a printer, a Realtor, and a firefighter.

Carl began his professional journey as an apprentice bookbinder at Fawcett Haynes Printing Company in Rockville,MD. He went on to earn his Journeyman Bookbinder license and was later elected Treasurer of the Washington Bookbinders Union, Local 4B, in Washington, D.C. Having a keen business sense and a lifelong desire to learn, Carl also took classes at Towson University and earned his license as a Realtor, G.R.I., in 1980. He enjoyed a distinguished twenty-five-year career of exemplary service with Weichert Real Estate before his retirement.

Carl’s true passion, however, was the fire service. His historic journey began at age 14 when he joined the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD), Glenmont Station #18 as a Junior Firefighter. He committed himself to extensive training through the Maryland Qualifications Board, earned his Emergency Medical Technician certification, and proudly served as a member of the Civil Air Patrol in Wheaton. In July 1967, Carl began a decorated, thirty-year career with the career ranks of the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service, retiring in 1997.

Parallel to his career service, Carl remained fiercely dedicated to volunteer service as a Master Firefighter and Life Member of KVFD. He climbed the ranks as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Assistant Chief, and served six years on the Board of Directors. He was exceptionally proud of his hands-on work helping to restore and refurbish Antique Fire Engine #52. Over his decades at KVFD, he anchored several committees, including Data, Parade, Recruitment & Retention, and served as Tag Chairman for 24 years. His loyal service was recognized with the 1978 “Firefighter of the Year” award from the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, and in 1988, he received the “Eugene J. Raney Memorial Award”—the most prestigious honor, presented by the KVFD President.

Carl’s leadership extended across the entire state. As a dedicated member of the Montgomery County Fire Rescue Association (MCFRA), he served as Vice President and President. In 1994, he was proudly inducted into the Maryland State Firemen’s Association (MSFA) Hall of Fame for his thirty years of dedicated service (1964–1994), followed by his induction into the MCFRA Hall of Fame in 2010. Carl’s structural guidance was instrumental to the MSFA, where he sat on the Budget and Steering Committees, rose through the ranks as 2nd and 1st Vice President, and ultimately served with distinction as the MSFA State President from 1999 to 2000. Even after retirement, he looked after his peers by serving on the Montgomery County Retiree Employees Association Board of Directors (1998–2016) and as Chairman of the Montgomery County Pension Board. Carl deeply treasured the many lifelong friendships he formed through the fire service and took immense pride in the work, traditions, and fellowship it brought into his life.

Faith and community remained the centerpieces of his retirement. As devoted parishioners of St. Joseph’s Church in Middletown, Delaware, Carl and his wife, Eileen, were deeply involved in the church community, where Carl lent his financial acumen to the Parish Finance Committee, Pastoral Council and volunteered on the Carnival Committee. A dedicated civic leader, he spent over twenty years on the Board of Directors for the Old Bohemia Historical Society. Carl also held memberships in the Knights of Columbus Council #13348 in Lewes, Delaware; Elks Lodge 2540; the M.O.T. Senior Center in Middletown; and the Lewes Senior Center. He especially found joy in volunteering as the weekly Bingo caller, where he was deeply admired and loved by his regular “Bingo Crew.”

Carl leaves behind a legacy of wonderful memories, lasting life lessons, and enduring values. He was a visionary leader, a natural mentor, and a true friend who took immense pride in everything he did.

In addition to his parents, Carl was preceded in death by his beloved uncles, Charles Samuel Edelin and William Richard Edelin.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Eileen; daughters, Stephanie Bystrak (Karl) and Janine Myers (Jamie); and his cherished grandchildren, Jake and Jessica.

He is also survived by Kim Houck (Tom), Kellie Cook (Jason), Travis Edelin (Marissa), as well as Taylar, Matthew, Andrew, and Bruce. Carl is further survived by his sisters, Patricia Wright and Barbara Fisher, along with many nieces, extended family members, and brothers and sisters in the fire service.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 8:45 am until 10:15 am on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 East Main Street, Middletown, DE. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 am, following the visitation, at St. Joseph Parish, 319 East Main Street, Middletown, DE. Interment will follow in Old Bohemia Cemetery, 1699 Bohemia Church Road, Warwick, MD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Carl B. Edelin, Jr.’s name may be made to Maryland Fire Rescue Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 742, Annapolis, MD 21404 or online by clicking here; or to Humane Animal Partners, 18675 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 or online by clicking here.