Edwin Rate

Edwin Schellhase Rate Jr.

Edwin or Ed as he liked to be called, died on February 23, 2025 @ Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions at the age of 92. Ed lived a long and successful life and will be missed by his family & friends. Ed's legacy will be lived on through his children, Diane Dunn, Trisha (Chris) Martin,Dennis (Marla) Rate. Ed has four grandchildren, Chelsie Martin, Cody (Laura) Martin, Jake (Haley)Dunn & Dan Dunn. Ed has four great grandchildren, Corlee Martin, Caeli, Camden & Cannon Martin. Ed's wife Susan Rate died on February 19, 2018 and is dearly missed by Ed and the family.

Ed was born July 2, 1932 in Canton, Ohio to Edwin and Helen Rate Sr. Ed had one sister, Kathleen Rumble and she had two children Kristi O'Neil (Craig) and Karen File. Kristi has a daughter Katie Haley and grand daughter Lexie Haley. Karen has a son Chad File. All will miss Uncle “Bud” as they called him.

Ed attended Lincoln grade School in Findlay, Ohio from 1938-1944 through 6ᵗʰ grade. Ed was said to be a “accident waiting to happen” as he broke his elbow two times and his collarbone. Ed attended Donell Junior High from 1945-1947. Ed played basketball all three years and freshman football. In 8ᵗʰ grade Ed dove into the YMCA pool and broke his tooth. That tooth became a big joke to Ed as he liked to take out his tooth & embarrass his family with his toothless grin especially with guests at the dinner table.

Ed attended Findlay Senior High School in Findlay, Ohio from 1948-1950. Ed played basketball, football and track. Ed won $50.00 in a poker game and bought a model T Ford, which became his transportation to school. Ed graduated in May of 1950. Ed went on to attend Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland, Ohio from 1950-1954. Case was an all male school offering degrees in engineering only. He chose to earn a Civil Engineering degree. Ed played football all four years and won outstanding offensive player award and his senior year received the Les Bales award.

While playing football his sophomore year Ed broke his nose. He was the president of a fraternity as well as president of the C Club which was an athletic Letterman's club. Ed Rate enlisted in the U.S. Civil Engineer Corp right after he graduated from college. He was sent with the Seabees to the Philippine Islands. From there he served in he Aleutian Islands off Alaska. Ed's last year in the service was 1957, which was spent at the Naval Air Station in Whidbey Island, Washington.

Ed & Susan were married on December 29ᵗʰ 1956 in Finlay, Ohio after knowing each other growing up. The story was Ed dunked Susan in the pool one summer & there started the romance. The two were pen pals in college and also when Ed was in the Philippines. Ed asked Susan to marry him on leave from Alaska one Christmas and two weeks later they were married and headed back to Washington State for Ed to finish serving in the Navy Engineering Corp before moving back to Findlay.

Ed's first job was with M&B asphalt as a laborer in Finlay, Ohio. He worked at Ohio Road & Paving Co. in Columbus, Ohio as an engineer & chief project superintendent. In 1960 Ed moved his family to Casper, Wyoming & worked at Construction Specialties Co. in Casper. Then in 1974 Ed started Western Construction Inc. in Casper as the owner and President and was in the erection of metal buildings and was responsible for all phases of operations. He retired from Western Construction in 2002.

In 2010, Ed was presented with the outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football award by the Wyoming National Football Foundation Hall of Fame for his dedication by serving as one of the scoreboard operators with Dennis and Marla at the NCHS home football games for 38 years starting in 1982, and the Wyoming Shrine Bowl football games for 17 years when it was moved from Laramie to Casper. Ed was instrumental in he inception of the Casper Midget Football Association in 1970 serving as a board member and coach. He was a timer at the finish line for several years at the Wyoming State track meets. Ed was a member of the Wyoming Flycasters Club and was awarded by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department the native cutthroat Cutt Slam. Many days were spent at the cabinet Alcova Lake with activities of fishing, boating and water skiing enjoying the area with family and friends.

Ed is preceeded in death by his parents Ed & Helen Rate Sr., his sister Kathleen and her husband Red Rumble & his wife of over 60 years Susan Rate, his son-in-law Steve Dunn. Ed taught us many things and he gave his all and he will be greatly missed!