Edwin (“Ed”) George Aeberli, 91, of Mountain View, Arkansas, passed peacefully to eternal life on December 20th, 2022, at his home in Sunnyland with his wife Faith Aeberli by his side.
Ed was born October 20th, 1931 in North Haledon, New Jersey where he spent his childhood until joining the Navy in 1952. He proudly served his country for 22 years, working his way from Seaman to Lt. Commander before retiring in February of 1974. He was assigned to several ships such as the USS Ticonderoga and the USS Duluth, and his favorite deployment was on the USS Intrepid. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam and was discharged with many honors including the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross), a Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Achievement Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars.
After retirement, Ed moved to Mountain View, Arkansas where he bought property in Sunnyland and renovated a barn on the land, turning it into a home for his family and a working farm that he and his wife Rae named Rocky Top. On his farm, Ed discovered his passion for woodworking and became a master carpenter, spending decades creating fine furniture, toys, and Christmas crafts for family and friends. He spent the rest of his life there, at times raising livestock, hunting, fishing, and growing rows upon rows of bell peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, okra, and cantaloupe. He was also very proud of his flowers and loved sharing them with his community and church dahlias from his father’s award-winning stock, colorful chrysanthemums, and gladiolus that seemed larger than life. He had a love for animals and had many faithful dogs that would journey with him, as well as more than a few rescue cats whom he loved dearly. Each morning he was up in the sun for a walk and every evening ended with a good book and his favorite bowl of Yarnell’s ice cream. Ultimately, he enjoyed the beauty and peace of his farm where he would feed the deer in his front yard and the raccoons that gathered on his porch in the evenings after the sun set over the mountains. It was a place he described as his own little paradise.
Ed was a devout Christian and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mountain View where he served as a deacon, and a greeter, and wrote the church’s weekly newsletter. He had the heart of a servant and a positive outlook. And if you asked how he was doing, you were always greeted with his cheerful reply of, “Well, I’m alive, and well, and living in Stone County.”
Edwin was blessed with a life of love and family and is survived by his wife of 6 years Faith Aeberli, daughters Sheila Young, Patricia Cordell, Beth Sutton, Carole Curtis, Lisa Roussea, and Kathleen Ragsdale, and grandson raised like a son, Justin Ragsdale. He is also survived by over 30 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. He is preceded in death by his wife Dawn Kintner Harris of New Jersey, wife Raymonette (“Rae”) Aeberli of Mountain View, one son, David Ragsdale of Mayflower, and his parents, Edwin J. Aeberli and Vera Welsch of New Jersey.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 28th, 10 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Mountain View with services to follow at 11. All military honors to be provided by the Stone County Honor Guard.
