Edward Ed Ronald Small

Edward Ed Ronald Small November 9, 1933 November 26, 2015 Clackamas, Oregon Ed Passed away peacefully during the reading of a Psalm on Thanksgiving Day November 26th, 2015 at the age of 82.  Ed was with long time partner for 37 years Barbara Columbus.  Married to Sharon Beard Small from 1956 to 1979.  Beloved father of Amy Waler Benoit, Kelly Small, Jim Small, David Small, “Trooper” the family dog.   Beloved grandfather of Austin Waler, Grant Small, Allison Small Montgomery, Winston Small.   Great-Grandfather of Christian Waler.   Survived by siblings Don Small, Myra Kay Small Jolma, Jerry Small.  Predeceased by his brother Gene Small.  Son of the late Oren and Sally Small of Stayton, Oregon. Ed was born in Princeton, Indiana, was raised there, and during the War years moved to Norfolk, Va.   In 1946 at the age of 12, Ed moved with his family from Norfolk, VA. to Mehama, Oregon, so his father could work in the sawmills and work on building the Detroit Lake Dam, and Timothy Lake Dam.  Ed was educated at Stayton High School (Class of 1952) and Linfield College (Athletic Scholarship).  Ed worked various jobs in his 20s and served in the Army as a lifeguard in Panama City, Panama with his wife Sharon and daughter Amy in 1957-58.  His professional work was with Beecham and Riker 3M in Pharmaceutical Sales for 20 years.  He retired from the Oregon Department of Corrections in 2001, and was the founding officer of the Corrections USA Union.  In 1988 he partnered with Barbara Columbus in establishing Mountain Valley Vineyard in Salem. Ed enjoyed snow skiing, basketball, photography, videography, growing wine grapes, recording his own music, Karaoke, whitewater rafting, swimming all the best swimming holes on the North Santiam and Little North Fork Rivers, and raising four kids.  He loved the Hwy 22 wilderness his entire life, hunting and fishing it often.  He loved the Santiam River.  Ed is best known for a basketball game between little Stayton High (250 students) and mighty Salem High (2800 students) and made a last second buzzer shot to beat Salem High in 1952. Funeral Service Saturday Dec. 5th ,  2015 at Weddle Funeral Home at 1777 N 3rd Ave. Stayton, OR 97383 at 11:00 AM.  In lieu of flowers remembrances to be made to Ed’s favorite charity: Salem Union Gospel Mission.