Edward E. Singleton died peacefully at Aegis of Aptos on Monday,May 15, 2017, two days after his 86th birthday.
He was born in Roxboro, North Carolina to John and Nancy (Perkins) Singleton, the fifth of their seven children.
After graduation from the University of North Carolina in 1953, he served four years in the U.S. Navy. During this time he met and married Roya Reiss in Newport, Rhode Island.
He pursued a career in public accounting in Houston, Texas; Greensboro, North Carolina; and San Jose, California. In 1972 Ed became a partner in Maness, Hontalas, and Srsen, bringing the family to Hollister. They settled in San Benito County and finished raising their three sons who had each been born in a different state.
Ed retired from Deloitte LLP in 1986 and soon bought Hollister Cold Storage Co. for a second career which lasted until 2005. Several years afterward were spent in world travel.
An important part of Ed’s life revolved around running. He believed in its health benefits and became a persuasive advocate of the sport. He founded the Mission 10 Run in San Juan Bautista. One of his proudest achievements was running the Boston Marathon in 1979. In the year he turned 52, he ran 53 races. He loved good wine and was an enthusiastic promoter and patron of San Benito County wineries, sending cases to family all over the country.
Ed often told people later in his life that the best thing he ever did was to marry Roya and have their three sons. He was fiercely proud of his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years Roya; his sister Phyllis Walker; his sons Steven (Colleen), David (Sara), and James (Veronica); and grandchildren Patrick Singleton (Jen), Katie Singleton (Aaron), Will Singleton, Stephen Singleton, Kellen Williams-Singleton (Emma), Sedonia Williams-Khoshravani (Wahid), and Ashton Williams; and numerous special nieces and nephews.
The family is privately observing a celebration of Ed’s life.
Memorials can be directed to Hospice of San Benito County, Hospice of Santa Cruz County, or your local hospice.
