Obituary of Edwin B. Singleton

Edwin Booth Singleton, Jr. died peacefully Tuesday morning, January 29, 2013 at home with his family. A lifelong resident of the Rockaway area, Ed was born in Dover on June 16, 1921 to Edwin Singleton and Lillian Ada Van Riper. He attended school in Rockaway and graduated from Rockaway High School. During World War II he served his country as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theatre. Ed worked for over 45 years at Moretrench American Corporation in Rockaway as a machinist, Plant Superintendent and Traffic Manager. He was involved with many major construction projects across the country. He also worked for several years at J.R. Longo and Sons. Ed was a life member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Dover acting as Lay Reader, Vestryman and Building and Grounds Committee Chairman. He created and assembled a Christmas crèche for the entire congregation to enjoy annually during the Christmas season. He was an adult leader for the Rockaway Borough Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was a Trustee of the Rockaway Borough Public Library, serving as president for nine years. He was also an active member of the Rockaway Borough Board of Adjustment. His interests spanned many subjects and included reading, railroads, woodworking and stamp collecting. He built a crayon holder for every small child he knew as well as plant stands and crèches for many family members and friends. He loved to travel with excursions to Manhattan as one of his favorites. He particularly enjoyed many trips to Florida to visit his parents stopping at Moretrench facilities along the way. He spent quite a bit of time in the San Francisco Bay Area working for Moretrench and saw as much of the area as he possibly could. In retirement he took a cross country car trip. Ed’s main focus was the love for his family. He enjoyed spending time with his wife, children and extended family and friends. Ed is survived by the love of his life, Ruth (Lowery) Singleton, a marriage of 66 years. He is also survived by his children: Nancy Adamczyk, Madison, NJ; Linda Jackson, Saranac Lake, NY; Robert Singleton, Palm Beach, Fla; Marcia and Doug Zeek, Dover, NJ; and Scott and Becke Singleton, Hamilton, NJ. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren: Karina (Jackson) and Brian Noyes; Trevor and Meghan Jackson; Tim Jackson; Roxie Zeek; Maddie Zeek; Hannah Singleton and Jake Singleton. Ed is also survived by his sister, Linda Platt of Clearwater, Fla and several nieces and nephews. His brother, William, predeceased him. A Memorial Service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 11 S. Bergen St. in Dover, NJ (973-366-2772) on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rockaway Free Public Library, 82 E. Main St., Rockaway, NJ 07866 or St. John’s Episcopal Church, 11 S. Bergen St., Dover, NJ 07801. Interment will be private at Restland Memorial Park, East Hanover. Funeral arrangements by Tuttle Funeral Home, Randolph (www.Tuttlefh.com)