Edward S. Cobb Jr.

A celebration of life service for Edward (Ed) Singleton Cobb, Jr., 96, of Granville, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 21, 2026, at Second Presbyterian Church, 42 E. Church Street, Newark, with Pastor Todd Tracy and Pastor Lanie Sipes presiding. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00-11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Inurnment will be private.

Ed passed away on September 3, 2026, at Otterbein Senior Living in Granville, Ohio where he made his home for the last four years. He was born on April 19, 1930, in New Haven, Connecticut to Edward S. Cobb, Sr and Eleanor Carlisle Cobb. He was a 1948 graduate of Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island. Ed attended Marietta College, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Business Management.

Following graduation from college, Ed was employed by Owens Corning Fiberglas Research and Development Lab in Ashton, Rhode Island. Four months later, in the fall of 1952, Ed was drafted. He was assigned to the US Army, 38th Infantry Regiment, Baker Company, during the Korean War. Ed achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class while serving as a gunner, squad leader, and operations sergeant. Ed was awarded the Bronze Star for his outstanding service to his country. Following his return from Korea Ed met and married the love of his life, Barbara Elder, on June 18, 1955.

In June 2023, Ed was thrilled to participate in Honor Flight Columbus. He enjoyed all aspects of the trip but was excited most by the public “welcome home” experience he had not received following his return from Korea. Ed was further honored in July of 2025 when he was selected to represent Korean War veterans in the Ford Oval of Honor during the Red, White, and Boom celebration in Columbus, Ohio.

Following the completion of his military service, Ed returned to his employment with OCF. Ed worked as a Project Engineer developing textile glass fibers. In the mid-1960’s Ed was promoted to Laboratory Operations Manager. He and his team developed non-combustible textiles that were utilized by the NASA Apollo program to make space travel safer. During this work Ed interacted with the Apollo astronauts and was honored to be an invited observer for three Apollo launches. Ed was awarded two patents for his work in this field. In 1973 Ed was transferred to the OCF Technical Center in Granville Ohio and retired as the Director of Staff Operations in 1986.

Ed had a strong belief in community service and wanted his community to be a caring place. Ed was a 50+ year member of Second Presbyterian Church. Ed was a 50+ year member of the Newark Kiwanis Club, serving on the Camp O’Bannon Board of Directors, and receiving recognition from Kiwanis International for his chairmanship of the Iodine Deficiency Disorder Project. Ed served as the Board President of the Central Ohio Boy Scout Council. He received the Silver Beaver Award and the God and Country Award for his service to scouting. Ed volunteered for Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) for many years providing counseling and mentoring to small business owners. For over ten years Ed participated in Ohio Business Week teaching and mentoring high school seniors.

Following his retirement, Ed was invited to conduct a survey for a fledgling group that wanted a plan to help feed the needy in Licking County. His efforts led to the establishment of the Food Pantry Network of Licking County. Operation Feed was also established in Licking County under Ed’s leadership. He was a Life Member of the FPN Board of Trustees. Most recently Ed was honored with the 2026 Everett D. Reese Award recognizing his continued giving of himself to benefit his community.

Ed had a variety of interests in life. He loved spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed his time at Buckeye Landing, the family cottage on Green Hill Beach in Rhode Island. Ed and Barbara traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He enjoyed golfing and was a member of a weekly bridge group for decades. Ed loved DIY projects and is famous for the twelve bathrooms he remodeled.

Ed and Barbara were married for 54 wonderful years. Ed and Barbara created a loving home and raised three children: Edward (Ted) (Betsy) S. Cobb III of Newark, OH; Allan (Barbara) Cobb of Sonoma, CA; and Nancy (Mark) Haynes of Westerville Ohio. Ed was blessed with four grandchildren: Ryan Haynes of Warren, MI, John Haynes of Grandview, OH, Allison Cobb of Orcas Island, WA, and Nonie (Shane Randle) Cobb of Missoula. MT. Ed was predeceased by his parents; his wife Barbara in 2009; and his sisters, Elizabeth Tifft and Priscilla Denison. Ed is also survived by many nieces and nephews and close friend, Camille Neale, of Easton, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Food Pantry Network of Licking County, 1035 Brice Street, Newark, Oh 43055.

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