Edward Franklin Wilsey

Edward Franklin Wilsey, age 91, of Forest Hill, MD passed away on July 27, 2017. Beloved husband of the late Ruth Elizabeth (Betsy) Merriken Wilsey; devoted father of Edward (Naoko Ogawa) Franklin Wilsey, III, William (Hillary Hutchison) Lee Merriken Wilsey and Ruth Elizabeth (Christopher) Wilsey Eisenhour; loving grandfather of Jaira Summers Wilsey, McKinder Lee Wilsey and Austin Christopher Eisenhour.

Ed was born in Champaign, Illinois and was the only child of Edward Franklin Wilsey and Ruth Elizabeth Knepper Wilsey. His childhood years were spent in Marengo and Keokuk, Iowa, Denver, Colorado, Istanbul, Turkey and Athens, Ohio. He served in the US Army from 1944-1946, then matriculated at Ohio University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Bel Air was Ed's home for most of his adult life. He retired in 1990 after forty-three years as a chemist for the Ballistics Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Until his later years, he was an active member of the National Railway Historical Society, the American Chemical Society, First Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, the Historical Society of Harford County, and the Harford County Genealogical Society. Ed and Betsy were married for fifty-five years until her death in 2013. Known as "Grandpa Boo" to his grandchildren, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed reading the daily newspaper and encouraging lively political discussions.


In lieu of flowers, those who desire may contribute to First Presbyterian Church, 224 North Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014.