Edward R. Rankin, Jr.

Born: 2/25/1954
Died: 12/24/2012

Mr. Edward R. Rankin, Jr., known fondly as “Ed,” age 58, of Newark, DE, formerly of Hancock’s Bridge, NJ, passed away suddenly on Monday, December 24, 2012.
Ed was born in Bridgeton, NJ, on February 25, 1954 and, following graduation from high school, proudly served his country in the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. In civilian life, he earned his bachelor’s degree in information technology from Widener University and would go on to become a highly-respected member of the computer science community. For the past 16 years, Ed had been employed as a senior systems analyst for Christiana Care at its Reads Way site in New Castle.
In his leisure hours, Ed greatly enjoyed the adventure of traveling, especially scuba diving trips. He was passionate about caring for animals throughout his life and particularly loved his pet dogs.
A loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother, Ed is survived by his beloved wife of eight years, Erin M. Strohmaier Rankin; daughter, Stacey Rankin (Richard Manfredi) of Canton, NJ; stepdaughters whom he loved as his own, Heidi Cosans (Jeremy) and Heather Walls of New Castle; mother, Edna Dehart Rankin of Summer Shade, KY; siblings, Wayne Rankin (Patti) of New Castle, Barbara Jean Rankin of Catawba, SC, and William “Lump Lump” Rankin of Bridgeton, NJ; and grandson, Mack Manfredi. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Richard Rankin, Sr.
Visitation will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 W. Park Place, Newark. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013, at Holy Family R.C. Church, E. Chestnut Hill and Gender Roads, Newark. Interment will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Ed may be made to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), 455 Stanton-Christiana Road, Newark, DE 19713; or to the Delaware Humane Association, 701 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.
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