Edward S. Kidd, 82, of Pensacola, FL, passed away Wednesday, September 14, 2022. He was surrounded by loved ones telling stories and sharing memories at his bedside, exactly the thing he wanted.

Ed was a man of many talents and interests, notably his involvement with Toastmasters; a weekly painting group at St. Mark; the Campfire Boys Bible study; the Men's Room Bible study; and a proud and faithful member of the choir at Trinity Presbyterian Church. He served in the U.S. Army, and over the years his professional life flowed in a variety of careers. He was a photographer, a teacher, a friendly face who delivered your flowers, a molder of minds, and an artist.

Ed was preceded by in death by his father, William Earl Kidd, and his mother, Evelyn Marcum Kidd.

He is survived by his wife, Joy Lunceford Kidd; daughters, Amanda Kidd, Martha Kidd Hanna (Scott), and Rebecca Kidd; sister, Polly Jackson (Bill); and granddaughters, Evelyn Hanna and Amy Hanna.

A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Friday, September 16, 2022, at 5:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Ed would be honored by a donation to Trinity Presbyterian Church, marked for the purchase of new choir robes. Seems he was tired of the old ones.

Thus ends the short details of a life in obituary format. It's a marvelous life, but how do you encompass a marvelous life in a few short paragraphs? For those of you who want more, those of you who are nosy, continue below.

Ed fell ill fast. He fought fast, and he died fast. Ed's attention span was often described as short, like that of a gnat, but when he found something he loved, he loved it hard. Interest was piqued, discovery was thorough, and the end result was often glorious (mind you, not always.) It was in this manner, the glorious one, that Ed left us. God gave the call, Ed gave that a listen, and he ran home into the arms of the Lord as fast as his soul could carry him. Praise be to God!

A quick onceover of the family tree will show you that Ed was surrounded by women. "All my boys were girls," he'd joke, and to the untrained ear, this sounded like a complaint. Yet every opportunity he got, Ed would travel long hours for visits with his daughters, or sit uncomfortably on stadium bleachers to hear his granddaughter play his old trumpet on a football field, or sit at a table across from his wife or a sister over dinner. To know Ed was to know that his complaint was actually a brag. "All these girls," he'd say, his heart overflowing from pride and love.

While Ed served his community professionally in many ways, if you asked him how he'd describe that part of this life, he'd say, "I am a teacher." Not was. Am. He was and still is an excellent teacher. If you wanted to learn to throw a ceramic pot, or paint a landscape on a canvas, make the perfect pot of chicken cacciatore, treat your wife like the love of your life, or tell an expertly timed joke, Ed was your man. His lifetime of learning gave the rest of us beautiful learning experiences of our own.

His family and friends are left brokenhearted but forever changed by his love. Ed was a hero, a life changer, a man who had a zest for life, and someone who had a heart for people. If you ever experienced conversation with him over a bowl of his stir fry at his dining room table, you know exactly what we mean.

Click this link to view live stream for Edward's Service: https://youtu.be/joeE8FGSj_I