Agraveside service will be held at 2:00p.m. on Sunday, July, 25, 2021, at Forrest Cemetery in Gadsden, AL for Mr. E.D. Witherspoon who passed away on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Pastor Thomas Laile will officiate. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements. The family will accept friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home on Sunday prior to the service. Mr. E.D. Witherspoon was born on October 15, 1924 in Albany, Alabama, the oldest of ten children. He graduated from Lanier High School for boys in Macon, Georgia. He served with the United States Army during World War II, March 17, 1943 – October 6, 1945. He was a POW in Stalag IV from August 1944 to May 1945. After the war he served in the United States Army Reserve, April 27, 1949 – October 15, 1984, completing 38 years of military service. After World War II he married his childhood sweetheart, Nora Donaline Turner and moved from Macon, Georgia to Gadsden, Alabama to work in the family furniture business. In 1958 he began a career with Berkline furniture as a sales representative for 31 years. After retirement he served as a volunteer docent at the Hardin Center for Cultural Arts and volunteered at the Salvation Army during the Christmas season each year. In 2012 he was honored by Community Tech Knowledge Foundation as a recipient of its Honors with a Heart Award for his volunteer work. In 2005 he was inducted into the Etowah County Patriots Hall of Fame and was a member of the Military Offices Association of America in Gadsden. Mr. Witherspoon is preceded in death by his wife, Nora Witherspoon; parents, Elvin D. Witherspoon and Olivia B. Witherspoon; brother, Milliard B. Witherspoon, George F. Witherspoon, Jack O. Witherspoon, Edward Gary Witherspoon, and Donald M. Witherspoon; sisters, Jane Witherspoon, Elizabeth Bendell, and Suzanne Young. Survivors include Children, Rebecca W. Elkins of Gadsden, AL, William K. Witherspoon of Woodstock, Ga, Robert R. Witherspoon of San Augustine, TX, and James N. Witherspoon of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Katrina Herman of Brentwood, TN, Sam Witherspoon of Houston, TX, Tony Witherspoon of Auburn, AL, and Carrie Clonts of Oxford, AL; great grandchildren, Morris Herman of Dallas, TX, Rebecca Herman of Kansas City, MO, and Evie Clonts of Oxford, AL; brother, Arnold D. Witherspoon of Wetumpka, AL, and special friend, Judy Rubel. In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to Bellevue United Methodist Church of Gadsden or the Salvation Army of Gadsden. The family wishes to express a special thanks to Dr. Webb Sledge, Vickie, Kim, and Holley for their kindness throughout the years. Also a special thanks to Kindred Hospice.
