Edward Schwerin

Edward Ralph Schwerin, Jr., 77, died in the early morning of July 9, 2022 at his home in Siler City, North Carolina.  He was surrounded by his children and beloved partner, Charlotte.  Ed had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March of this year.

Edward grew up in Five Points, Raleigh and graduated from Broughton High School.  His parents were Edward Ralph Schwerin, Sr., a dental lab operator, and Annie Wilson Butler Schwerin, a private nurse. 

Growing up, Ed was a big swimmer, lifeguard, and football star.   He was a fast driver, and a tinkerer of cars and electronics.  He had a lucrative paper route that helped him buy his first home. 

He was described as the most handsome man in Raleigh in the 1960’s.

Ed entered the United States Army Reserve and served as Military Police in Fort Jackson, South Carolina.  He came home after President Kennedy was assassinated and entered NCSU where he graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering.  Ed became an Industrial Arts teacher in Durham and Wake Forest. 

He left teaching to work for Cast-A-Stone and then bought Colony Hardware with his wife, Anne Schwerin.  The family ran a successful hardware and landscaping company for many years.  When he and Anne divorced, he moved to Wake Forest, North Carolina and started multiple business projects. 

Ed and his son, Michael worked together and traveled on adventures for many years.

Ed was a Piper Cherokee pilot, sailed extensively and was a scuba diver in his later years.  Edward realized he loved hanging with hippies when his daughter Tami volunteered him to be Camp Ranger at the Shakori Hills Festival of Music and Dance in Silk Hope, North Carolina.  He enjoyed many years on the festival circuit, making many friends and training camp rangers along the way.  Ed was a quiet, yet gregarious man who made friends with everyone.

Ed was a lover of RV’s, and loved traveling with Charlotte.  As the pandemic broke out, Ed and Charlotte found the perfect farm in Siler City and moved in with belted Galloway cows, horses, chickens, goats and beautiful gardens.  

Edward is survived by his beloved partner, Charlotte Vetter, his son, Michael Schwerin, daughter, Tamela Schwerin, his sister Julia Schwerin Earp, and his dog Sammy. He is also survived by his grandson Arlo Estill, his son-in-law, Lyle Estill, his step-grandchildren Jessalyn Kiesa and Kaitlin Estill and his great grandchildren, Margot Kiesa and Aidan Zafer Kiesa and his ex-wife Anne Schwerin.  Ed was preceded in passing by his grandson, Zafer Estill.

When Ed received his diagnosis, he decided to purchase the RV of his dreams from a dealer in Florida.  A family friend picked it up, drove it to NC, repaired it and delivered it a day before Edward died.

Edward’s burial will be held July 24^th @ 10.00am at the Sanctuary of the Burrow in Moncure
https://www.sanctuaryattheburrow.com/contact, North Carolina with a Second Line jazz band, Bulltown Strutters. He will be buried next to his grandson, Zafer. 

His service and Celebration of Life will be held at 12 noon July 24^th at his dream home, Rockin’ Horse Farm in Siler City, 705 Glosson Rd, Siler City, NC 27344 https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.9989248,-78.9151744/705+Glosson+Rd,+Siler+City,+NC+27344/@35.7651105,-79.4385303,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m9!4m8!1m1!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x88534c17d8327e2f:0x44317c0a5696fc2c!2m2!1d-79.4569183!2d35.6912858.  All are welcome to celebrate this great man’s life.

Donations in Edward Schwerin’s name can be made to Chatham Animal Rescue and Education.  https://www.chathamanimalrescue.org/