Mills River- Edison "Eddie" W. Wirtz, Jr., 83, passed away on October 17, 2025.

Eddie was born December 21, 1941 in Transylvania County to Edison W. Wirtz, Sr. and Freddie Lee Austin Wirtz. He was the oldest of three children with two sisters. Most of Eddie's youth was spent in the Panama Canal Zone where he formed lifelong friends "malientes", a humorous slang name they called each other. An adept swimmer and scuba diver, he speared fish to sell and told stories of narrow escapes during his ocean adventures. Eddie attended Junior College in the Zone. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967 and honorably discharged in 1968 with a physical disability.

Shortly after his Army discharge, he settled in Mills River in the beautiful home where he would live the remainder of his years and raise his daughter Kellie, who he called his "pumpkin."

His working career was primarily with Dupont and he retired from the acquiring company of AGFA in 1998. Eddie's talent as an artist was recognized and utilized at work where he created many posters, charts, graphs and signs. He also was in charge of stocking the ponds and river on the property with trout. The golden trout were his special touch to this assignment.

He was multi-talented; drawing, painting, carving, glass-etching, metal working, clay sculpting and scrimshaw art. Eddie's artistic eye could perceive the utility in ordinary things (such as ivory piano keys for his scrimshaw art) so he could re-purpose them. In addition to making things, he had an unusual ability to fix almost anything from appliances to bicycles, mowers and tractors. Eddie was self-taught and built his own hot rod and even restored a vintage tractor. He fully lived up to the namesake of Edison as a creative inventor.

Eddie had an easy going and engaging personality, never meeting a stranger and always willing to lend a helping hand. He was known for never saying unkind words about anyone. His wit and sense of humor will live on in some of his jokes and sayings. He enjoyed being physically active. He was an energetic delight on the dance floor, often winning competitions. Outdoor favorite activities were swimming, gardening, hunting and fishing. He was the neighborhood "green bean meister" sharing the bounty. When it came to fishing, he truly lived the adage of, "Time Spent Fishing is Not Deducted From One's Lifespan."  Eddie thoroughly enjoyed being a "Poppie" to his grandchildren and they felt special spending time with him. Through out his life, he loved all animals and gave a home to many rescued cats and dogs.

Eddie is lovingly remembered by his wife, Celeste DeFoe Wirtz; his sister, Sandra Ekburg and her spouse, Charlie, and their two sons, Jon and Ben; daughters, Kellie Wirtz Marlatt and her husband, Jeff; Jennifer Smith Hilbert, mother of his three grandchildren, Justin Hilbert, Porter Ring, and Arabella Valadez; and many dear cousins.

The family will receive friends from 3-5 Pm Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Moody-Connolly Funeral Home.

A celebration of his life is planned for Spring at a lake he fished.

In lieu of flowers, any donations would be appreciated for the Hendersonville Rescue Mission.

Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.

Moody-Connolly Funeral Home is caring for the family.