Edward E. Kriner

Edward E. “Ed” Kriner

Edward  E. “Ed” Kriner, age 86, 3417 Old Berwick Road, Bloomsburg, died at his home at 10:35 p. m. Wednesday, January 9, 2013, after being in declining health for the past three months.

Born on April 25, 1926 in Williamsport, he was the son of the late Mary E. (Macensky) Kriner. He resided in Bloomsburg since 1954 and previously lived in Cresco.

Ed was a 1944 graduate of Williamsport High School where was an outstanding athlete, lettering in basketball, football (captain in his senior year), baseball and track. Following graduation Ed enlisted in the US Navy and served in the South Pacific and Panama for two and a half years during World War II.

.Following his military service, he enrolled in Lycoming College, Williamsport and later transferred to East Stroudsburg State Teachers College, graduating in 1951 with a BS in Physical Education. Ed  lettered in football and basketball at both Lycoming and East Stroudsburg. Following graduation he played one season for the Paterson, New Jersey Giants.

Ed began his teaching career in 1951 at Barrett Township High School, Cresco and in 1952, he accepted a position at Bloomsburg High School, teaching physical education  and health education. During his 34 years at Bloomsburg High School, he served as football line coach for eight years; golf coach for five years; assistant athletic director for one year; and athletic director for six years. He was the first manager for the Bloomsburg Community Swimming Pool and for many years he supervised the Bloomsburg Youth Center, sponsored by the Bloomsburg Kiwanis Club and for thirty years he was the supervisor at the Bloomsburg Kiwanis Playground. He retired  from teaching in 1986.

Ed’s  entire life centered around sports, either as a participant or as  a coach. His aptitude as a player and coach was honored in November, 2003, when he was inducted into the West Branch Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, Williamsport.

For 56 years, he worked in the Bloomsburg Fair Concessions office and in October, 2011, he was presented the Outstanding Fair Ambassador Award by the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

An avid Notre Dame and Penn State football fan, Ed attended numerous games throughout the country. He was a lifelong New York Yankees fan and proudly wore his Pittsburgh Steelers  baseball cap in support of his favorite pro football team.

Ed was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church, Bloomsburg, where he served for many years as a lector and Extraordinary Minister.  He also belonged to the Columbia Valley Moose Lodge 623; Bloomsburg Elks Lodge 436 and Valley of Bloomsburg Post 273, American Legion; the Columbia-Montour Retired Teachers Association; the Pennsylvania Retired Teachers Association; and the National Retired Teachers Association.. He volunteered at the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard and  Meals on Wheels.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia A. Blackman in 2008.

Surviving is his wife, the former Marjorie A. Eck, with whom he celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on August 22, 2012; a son, Stephen Kriner, and his wife Gail, Titusville; a daughter, Marianne Coratello, Northumberland;  and three granddaughters: Ellie and Carly Kriner and Michelle Blackman. He was the last of his immediate family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a. m. Monday in St. Columba Catholic Church, 342 Iron Street, Bloomsburg , by his pastor, Monsignor Robert E. Lawrence. Interment in New Rosemont Cemetery, Espy.

At the request of the family, there will be no public viewing. Friends are invited to visit with the family at St. Columba Church on Monday from 9:30 a. m. until the time of the Mass.

The family has established a scholarship fund in Ed’s name to be awarded annually to a Bloomsburg High School graduating senior.  Contributions may be sent to the fund at the First Columbia Bank & Trust Co., 232 East St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.