Edward Ankeny, 91, of Coupeville, formerly of Oak Harbor and Clinton, died at Careage of Coupeville on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008.

Ed was born on Oct. 23, 1917, in Faribault County, Minn. on the family farm to Irvin G. Ankeny and Maude (Cheatle) Ankeny.

He went to school in Blue Earth, Minn. and eventually to the University of Minnesota Farm School. In 1940, he was drafted into the army and was assigned to mountain artillery. He then enlisted into the newly formed Army Air Corps and became a mechanic on A-17s. He served in England and France during the war.

After his discharge in 1945, he moved to Seattle to work for Boeing, and then Howard-Cooper as a diesel mechanic. In 1964 he lost his sight in an industrial accident and retired.

Ed married Esther R. Edwards on Jan. 6, 1950 in Seattle, where they lived until 1969, when they moved to Whidbey Island and settled in Clinton.

Both Ed and Esther moved to Summerhill in Oak Harbor in January 2001.

He had been an active member of the Langley United Methodist Church, the South Whidbey Lions Club and the Maxwelton Community Club, serving as the grand marshal with Esther in the Maxwelton Fourth of July Parade.

He enjoyed camping, backpacking and traveling with Esther, as well as gardening and cutting, splitting and selling firewood.

Ed is survived by his son, Michael Ankeny and wife Donna of Clinton; his siblings, Hazel Engelstad of Kassen, Minn., John Ankeny of St. James, Minn., Cecile Carroll of Parker, Ariz., Gordon Ankeny of Gooding, Ind. and Harlan Ankeny of Mesa, Ariz.; also by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Esther and his sister Ruth.

No memorial services are planned at this time. Graveside services will be held this summer in Malta, Mont., where he will be laid to rest with his wife.

In lieu of cards or flowers, please contribute to the Lions Club eye bank, in which he was deeply involved for many years.