Edsel Briner

Edsel Boyd Briner, 81 of 1887 E. Hickory Drive, Vincennes, went to be with the Lord on March 6, 2012. He was born July 6, 1930 in Vincennes in which he was a native. Edsel was married December 23, 1955 to Grace Irene Taylor at the First Trinity Lutheran Church at 4th & E St. NW Washington, D.C. They were married for 56 years and was a wonderful devoted husband, dad, and pop pop. Edsel loved all his family and friends. He made the military his career and served his country in two wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Retiring from the United States Marine Core and Civil Service, after serving a total of 37 years in federal service for his country, His rank in the USMC when he retired was First Sergeant and had an ancestor , Michael Catt, who fought in the Civil War in which he was very proud. He loved history and was well versed and fascinated with the Civil War. He loved sports like college basketball and pro football, and particularly Indiana University basketball. As a young man, he played basketball for the First Baptist Church in the church league, learned how to swim at the YMCA., and played other sports in Vincennes.Edsel was a 1948 graduate of Lincoln High School, where he played football. He loved watching world news and movies. Some of favorite actors were John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Robert Duval. In music he enjoyed listening to the Big Band era, the 1940s and country music. Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Hank Williams Sr. and Johnny Cash were some of his favorites along with the comedians, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason, and Jack Benny. Edsel was a wonderful cook, and was very neat and organized. He was very proud, strong, extremely intelligent, and had a great sense of humor. In recent years he enjoyed his sun room, watching birds and was very down to earth. He traveled all over the world and will be cherished and missed and never forgotten. We will love you always with all our love in Christ. Surviving is his wife, Grace (Taylor) Briner, his children; Allison Boccia of Crystal Lake, Illinois and Brenda Wathem and her husband, Dale of Vincennes; two sisters, Leona Booth of Vincennes, and Sheila Massullo of Las Vegas, and two grandchildren, Trenda Messner and her husband Jeff, and Alex Boccia.Preceding Edsel in death were his parents, and siblings, Virginia "Ginny" Ivers, Kenneth Briner, Wanda Harrison, David Briner, and Donetta Lemon.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 2012 with Rev. Fred Harrison officiating. Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 5-7 Friday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.goodwinfamilyfh.com