WEST FRANKFORT – Edwin (Ed) Burke Pool, 95, of West Frankfort, Illinois passed away  Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at Westside Care Center in West Frankfort, Illinois at 9:56 a.m.                      

Ed was born February 20, 1928, on the family farm two miles west of Chambersburg, Illinois. He is the son of Virgil and Helen (Metz) Pool. He was reared in Chambersburg with his five brothers and two sisters. Ed was the fifth of eight children. He attended the Chambersburg public schools, graduating from high school in 1946.                                         

He served his country in the U.S. Army Signal Corps stationed at the Signal Center in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He was honorably discharged to return home to be trained as a Broadcast Engineer-Technician at DeForest Training in Chicago. It was there that he received the Radio Telephone First Class License. He married Dora McDannald in 1948 and she preceded him in death.

Ed was employed with radio station WSOY in Decatur, television station WICS in Springfield, and radio station WJJD in Chicago, Illinois. He later served with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees as assistant director of Council #34, headquartered in Springfield. Ed enrolled in Lincoln Christian College in January of 1970 where he trained to be a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He married Blanche (Rosson) Karraker in June 1970. After 39 years of a very good marriage, she preceded him in death. On July 28, 2020, he married Sue Martin and she survives.

Beginning in 1974 until his retirement, Ed served as minister with the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. Beginning with the Christian Church in Aberdeen, SD (8 ½ years) followed by the Christian Church in Milton, IA (10 years), Christian Church in Xenia, IL (8 years), and the Church of Christ in Orient, IL until his final sermon on May 2023.

Ed was a member of the West Frankfort Lions Club, served on the board of directors of The Christian Counseling & Family Services, the Southern Illinois Christian Service Camp, was actively involved with the Heartland Evangelizing Association, and the Southern Illinois Christian Convention, plus many other church related organizations and activities. He was also involved in community betterment activities in all the cities where he resided. This included the biblical directive to expose the “Fruitless deeds of darkness.” (Ephesians 5:11). Ed strived to live as an ambassador and servant to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Dora Pool (17 years) and second wife Blanche Pool (39 years); sons Carroll E. Karraker, Scott L. Karraker Pool; sisters Mary Rachel, Virginia Robinson, and Doris Eckoff; brothers Virgil E., Dean E., and Lyle M. Pool.

Ed is survived by his wife Sue Martin Pool; son Clifton T. Pool; daughters Joyce C. Martin, Janet S. Schopp, Diane A. Fox, and Tricia Dick Martin; brothers Galen D. and Henry B. Pool; numerous grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023, at Union Funeral Home in West Frankfort, Illinois. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. at Anna City Cemetery in Anna, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 1961 of Orient and Zeigler Post 177.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church or religious institution of the Restoration Movements.