Dr. Edgar Malone “Gator” Ewing, age 74, of Valdosta, formerly of Ocilla, died Sunday, April 19, 2015 at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, GA.
Memorial services will be held at 11 AM, Thursday, April 23, 2015 at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Ocilla with Elder Edward McIntyre officiating. Interment will be private. The family will be receiving friends immediately following the service at The Ewing Farm, the home of Kerry and Donna James on Frank Road, in Ocilla.
Gator was born November 23, 1940, in Ocilla, Georgia, to Waldo Henderson and Mary Grace Piper Ewing. Gator attended Irwin County Schools and graduated from Veterinary School at the University of Georgia in 1969. Gator began flying at an early age and flew for the forestry commission before college graduation. He worked in private practice for several years then as a Veterinarian for the USDA until his retirement. He spent several years with the USDA in Puerto Rico where he met and married Sonia Feliciano in 1981. He also co-owned Ewing Dusting Service in Fitzgerald early in his flying career. As a crop duster Gator became somewhat of legend in Irwin, Ben Hill and surrounding areas.
Gator especially loved spending time on The Ewing Farm. He loved the outdoors, spending time with his many friends, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and his beloved dogs. He was passionate about land and forest preservation and spent countless hours cultivation pines on the farm he loved. Late in life Gator became an avid story teller and thankfully wrote several small stories of his many escapades for us to cherish. From the stories we’ve read and heard Gator left a lasting impression on everyone who crossed his path.
Gator is survived by his wife Sonia Ewing of Valdosta; daughters Cindy (Steve) Johnson of Leesburg and Michelle (Joe) Ritter of Valdosta; a son: Andrew (Audrey) Ewing of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; grandchildren: Jake Malone Johnson, Meagan and Michael Ritter, Parker and Elle Ewing; sisters: Norma Jean Ewing and Elizabeth “Dib” Sims of Ocilla and Kay (Buddy) Smith of Madison; a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins and lastly his beloved animals: dogs Ringo, Sister, Dixie and Kenny Ray and a Cat, Princess. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother: Billy Ewing, two nephews and a niece.
Those desiring to send memorials may send them in his name, to the Humane Society Lowndes County, 307 East Jane Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601.