Edwin Cornelius Womble ’35 of Laurinburg, N.C., died Nov. 29 at Scotia Village after a period of declining health. He was born in Wagram, N.C., on Oct. 8, 1915, the son of Seaton Jehu Womble and Edith Arey Womble.
He began school in what is now known as the Temperance Hall just outside of Wagram and later graduated from Spring Hill High School in 1931. After high school he attended Presbyterian Junior College and graduated from Davidson.
For the next several years he worked in his father’s hardware business until he decided that medicine was his calling. He attended Wake Forest Medical School and graduated from the Medical College of South Carolina in 1942.
He married Lena Thompson of Gastonia, whom he met while she was a student at Flora MacDonald College.
During World War II, he served as a captain in the Army Air Corps in Italy.
In 1947 he began his private practice in Wagram. Until his retirement in 1985, he served in many capacities in the healthcare community. He was the physician for the department of corrections for 29 years, served as a county medical examiner for 20 years, and was a member of the board of health for 22 years.
Ed was active in community and civic activities. He was on the Wagram School Committee and later served for seven years on the Scotland County School Board during the time of desegregation and consolidation of the county schools.
He was active in American Legion Post 441 and in the Wagram Activity Association. In later years, the Golden Kiwanis Club occupied much of his time. He was a lifelong member of Montpelier Presbyterian Church, where he served many years as an elder and Sunday school teacher.
Ed is survived by his daughter Olivia W. Griffin (Dr. Richard Griffin), 748 Wood Hollow Rd., Taylorsville, NC 28681-7632; and his sons, Andrew Womble (Emily McNeill Womble), Marvin Womble (Cynthia Edge Womble), and Theron Womble (Peggy Jordan Womble). He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Karen Reese (Evan), Sarah Griffin-Green (Zachary), Mary Griffin, Mary Beth Buie (Parks), Graham Womble (Melanie), Sharon Hendrix (John), Seaton Womble, Seth Womble (Katie), Jordan Womble (Amy): two step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Edith Womble Boland. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Lena Thompson Womble; and sisters, Mary Womble Boland, Lottie Raynor Womble, and Frances Womble Fulp.