Eddie ” Ern” Champion, 65, of Lehigh Acres, FL was called to be home with our Lord on Dec. 31, 2014 at Lehigh Regional Medical Center. Eddie was born the son of Edward J. Champion and the late Patricia M. Croyle on Jan. 9, 1950 in Kittaning, PA. He was previously from Youngstown, OH and had retired to his dream of always being with his family in the Florida sunshine. Eddie was a member of the UAW Local 1112 in Lordstown, OH; had been a coordinator for General Motors until he retired in 2000; and later married Elizabeth Starkey Champion on Dec. 18, 2004. He loved his family more than anything but riding motorcycles, fishing, boating, camping, gardening and walking with his grandchildren were all of his favorite things to do.
Eddie leaves behind to cherish his memory: wife of 10 years, Elizabeth Starkey Champion; son, Edward Champion and his wife Sarah Frasher; daughters: Heather Vaughan and her husband William Vaughan and Angela Champion and her husband Eric Taylor; stepson, C.J. Womer; and stepdaughter, Kristen Starkey; 13 grandchildren: Paige & Andrew Vaughan; Janee & Gregory Griffin; Jessica, Nevaeh, and Eddie Champion; Myla & Eric Taylor; Maurgan, Zach, Kaleb and Kolton Starkey; brothers & sisters: Randy “Bud” and Karen Champion, Doug and Sandy Champion, Sindy Swiger and Jerry Keely, Susan and Bill Bevan and Tim and Melissa Champion; three brother in laws: Jeff and Sue Starkey, Frank and Nancy Starkey and Michael and Lisa Starkey; many nieces and nephews and special loved ones including his dearest friends who are too numerous to list. He will be remembered with much love. He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Mae Champion; grandparents, Ernest and Alice Croyle, Joseph and Lottie Champion; best friend and uncle, James Croyle; mother and father in law, Oddie and Elizabeth Starkey; and two brother in laws, Richard and Harrell Starkey.
Visitation for family and friends will be held from 10-12am on Sat., Jan. 10, 2014 with funeral services beginning at 12 noon at Anderson-Patterson Cremation & Funeral Services, 2701 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres, FL 33971. Burial will follow at Lee Memorial Park Cemetery.