Greenville University issued the following announcement on Jan. 6
Greenville College Professor of Education Emeritus Edwin Blue passed away December 8, 2021, at age 87. He also served as the institution’s interim president from 2008-09.
Ed began his education journey in Upstate New York in a one-room schoolhouse. First in his family to graduate high school, he also went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Grace College, and a master’s and doctorate in education at Indiana University Bloomington.
Ed enjoyed teaching and mentoring students throughout the decades. His career as an educator spanned 53 years and included 14 years at Asbury College where he served as professor and eventually president. He served for 15 years at Greenville College as the director of the teacher education program, and as interim president from 2008-09, before retiring.
In 2006, the Illinois State Board of Education recognized Greenville College and Ed for their outstanding accreditation review and for training a group of 30 new state education team members. The institution passed the state certification with the highest recommendations. Ed was commended for providing other schools with assistance in meeting the accreditation and state proficiency education standards. This marked the first time the ISBE recognized a college for proficiency at addressing state and national requirements.
Having served as a public school teacher, principal, central office administrator, college professor and college president, Ed was honored in three states – Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois – for his commitment to education. Ed stepped into his role as interim president with vision and excitement for the year ahead, keeping Greenville College moving forward through a year of transition.
“[He] represented the very best of his generation,” says Brian Hartley, GU’s dean of faculty and chief academic officer. “[Ed] believed and invested in others. As a first-generation college graduate who grew up in Depression-era rural America, he took nothing for granted and viewed all of life as a gift from God. He had a great sense of humor and read widely. It was hard not to love Ed.”
Ed once said of Greenville College: “I came here because of the people. The staying power of the place is the people. The faculty, the staff, the people that clean my office … they are all great people! I’m proud of the grounds crew, I’m proud of the people that clean my office, I’m proud of the faculty, I’m proud of the staff.”
Ed also loved and devoted himself to family, his children, and grandchildren. Ed was married to the love of his life Judy (Hunter), for 65 years before she passed in 2017. They are survived by their four children, Tim, Susan, GU Professor Teresa (Blue) Holden, and Scott.
Through Judy and her family, Ed began attending church, accepted the Lord as Savior, and pursued a life following the path of Christ.
Original source can be found here.
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