Edgar L. Ed Rawlings, Iii

Edgar L. Rawlings III (Ed) of Wickford passed away after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease on Nov. 18, 2017 at Scalabrini Villa. He was the beloved husband of Jane F. Rawlings for 58 years and devoted father of Holly R. Walsh of North Kingstown and Edgar L. Rawlings IV (and his wife Jennifer Phillips) of New York City. He leaves 3 grandsons, Connor, Liam and Aidan Walsh, and one granddaughter, Adeline Rawlings. After graduating from the University of Tennessee in 1957, Ed went to work for 32 years for the American Can Company (later known as American National Can). During that time he was involved in inventing the pop-top can opener, as well as the one-piece drawn aluminum beverage and food containers common today, while living in San Francisco, Los Angeles, the South Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Chicago. Ed retired in 1996 and moved permanently to Wickford, RI where he served as Vice-Chair on the RI State Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for 11 years, as well as the local North Kingstown Economic Development Board, and was an active member of the Lion’s Club throughout his retirement. Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 from 4-7pm in Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St, Wakefield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Kindred Hospice of Rhode Island.