Capt. James Edward "Ed" Seale, 94, passed Dec. 9 on Boca Grande.
Seale, a retired Lt. Col. in the U.S. Air Force, was born Oct. 9, 1918, in Woolsey, Ga., but his family resided in Sarasota where he spent his childhood.
He graduated from Sarasota High School in 1936, where he met his wife, Constance Whitney, whom he married Oct. 16, 1942.
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He joined the Air Force in 1942 and was a pilot serving in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He and his family spent time stationed in Savannah, Ga., South Hadley, Mass., Shreveport, La., and Bangor, ME. He retired in 1970 and they returned to Sarasota.
Seale Family Inc. Realtors opened in 1978 in Boca Grande, and Ed and Connie moved to the island in 1980. He was an enthusiastic outdoorsman and loved being on the water. He was often found out on his boat either sailing or fishing, and worked as a tarpon guide for years. He was also an avid hunter and went on many hunting trips with family and friends up until the last year of his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Connie.
He is survived by his three daughters and their families, Jacqueline and Ralph Schwegman, Warrena and Jeff Gaines, and Rebecca Paterson and Dave Arner; five grandchildren, Rumone Walters, Jay Schwegman, and Seale, Skye, and Spencer Paterson; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.
A memorial service will be held in January. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches or a Boca Grande charity of your choice.
