ELKHART -- Edwin E. "Ed" Samuelson, 82, of Elkhart, died at 5 p.m. Tuesday (April 13, 2010) at Elkhart General Hospital after an extended illness.

He was born Oct. 26, 1927, to Edwin Samuelson and Herta Erickson in Chicago. He married Joyce M. Flood on Oct. 3, 1953, in Chicago.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce M. Samuelson of Elkhart; one sister, Hertha Falt of Chicago; three nieces, Linda (Donald) Ryba of River Forest, Ill., Donna Hanley of Louisville, Ky., and Linda (Gary) Mohr of Fort Worth, Texas; and a host of great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Mr. Samuelson spent a lifetime in the RV industry, from working various sales positions in the Elkhart area to owning Unique Travel Trailers for a short time in Boise, Idaho. He was a former member of the Elks Club and an avid reader. He will be best remembered for his jovial personality. His kind eyes, affectionate disposition and bear-hug greetings will be missed by all. Always the life of the party, Ed looked forward every year to playing Santa Claus for all of his nieces and nephews. He served in the Navy as a radio operator for the USS Hanson, a destroyer which patrolled the Western Pacific in the years following WWII. He was a USN veteran.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today (April 16, 2010) at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. Fr. Bill Sullivan of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church of Elkhart will lead a brief prayer at 6:45 p.m. today. Military graveside honors will be rendered at 1 p.m. Saturday (April 17, 2010) at the chapel at Irving Park Cemetery, 7777 Irving Park Road, Chicago. Burial will follow there.

Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association.