Ret. SFC Eddie Lee Hollingsworth

Eddie Hollingsworth, 85, of Fayetteville, NC, died at Cape Fear Valley Hospital on Saturday, July 8. 

Ed was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on Dec 24, 1931. Ed’s parents could not take care of him and placed him in an orphanage (that is where the adventure begins, but that is another story). Ed joined the army in 1949 and honorably retired as a SFC with 22 yrs of service in 1971. Ed is a Korean and Vietnam veteran. Prior to serving in Korea, Ed was an MP (Military Police) and served as part of the International Patrol in Vienna, Austria which included service members from Russia, France, England and the United States after WWII. In Korea, he was an MP in Panmunjom, S. Korea escorting dignitaries. He continued as an MP in San Francisco patrolling the Presidio and was then stationed in Nancy France. After attending aviation maintenance school, in Ft. Eustis VA, he was stationed in Mannheim Germany and subsequently assigned to Special Force Aviation in Bad Tolez, Germany. He then served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division out of Ft. Campbell Ky where he was a crew chief and maintenance supervisor for helicopters and finally completing his military career with special forces aviation at Ft. Bragg in 1971 settling in Fayetteville. After his retirement for the military, Ed served as a deputy with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department retiring as a Sergeant after 21 1/2 yrs. 

He is survived by his wife, Elfriede who was born in Linz, Austria (he died just 9 days short of their 65 anniversary); his two sons, Robert Hollingsworth (Elnora) of Red Springs and Steven Hollingsworth (Deanna) of Winston-Salem; six grandchildren, Robyn Turner, Bryan Hollingsworth, Kristy Romualdo, Jenny Hollingsworth, Brandon Hollingsworth and Bryan Winters; seven great grandchildren, Carolina, Alex, Matthew, Noah, Andre, Aiden and Morgan. 

A memorial service with military honors will be held at 1 pm Saturday, July 15, 2017 in Village Baptist Church, 906 S McPherson Church Rd, Fayetteville, NC, 28303. An inurnment will follow in Village Baptist Church Columbarium. The family will receive friends from 12 pm (noon) to 1 pm prior to the service at the church. 

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Building Fund for Village Baptist Church.

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