Edgar C. Oatman

Edgar C. Oatman, our Dad, Pop Pop, Uncle and Brother Ed, passed on February 19th.

Having survived a failing bumper jack in the 1950s, quadruple by-pass surgery in the 80’s, knee replacement surgery in his 80s, idiotic politicians, telemarketers, a fall down a complete flight of stairs three years ago, and consumption of food long past expiration, our Ed Dog passed away peacefully after wonderful care in the hospice facility at the Masonic Village in Elizabethtown.

One of five of Edgar Franklin and Angie Oatman’s children, Ed grew up on Ice Avenue along with his sisters Midge and Helen and brothers Bill, and Gene.

Our father married his JP McCaskey high school sweetheart, Patricia Grimm in 1954, and remained happily married beyond her passing in 2013. He worked for Coca-Cola and then RCA where he met many of his lifelong friends. He could fix almost anything, and did, sometimes we think just to prove to himself he could.

Although not a veteran like his brothers, he engineered and supervised family vacations to Wildwood, New Jersey with military precision. And once there, could clear the hotel pool with one well-placed cannonball and body surf better than anyone despite usually being the largest body trying.

A longtime member of the Lancaster Bicycle Club, he could tell you anything about Lancaster County, but being a Freemason, he could also keep a secret. 

Our Ed Dog leaves behind two grateful sons, Jeff and Scott, their wives, Suzy and Shelley, three grandchildren, Ryan, Caitlyn, and Alex, one freshly delivered great granddaughter, Ellie as well as his remaining sister Helen and brother Gene, close extended family, friends, and neighbors who will all miss him immensely here, but take comfort that he is at last reunited with his Patsy.

A funeral service honoring Ed will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. The family requests memorial contributions in Ed's memory may be made to First Reformed Church, 40 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA 17602, where he and Patricia were longtime members.