ATHOL - Edward H. Bergquist, 66, of 94 Garfield Road, died early Tuesday morning, December 6, 2005 at home surrounded by family, following an illness. Born on November 29, 1939, he was a son of Carl and Elinor (Higgins) Bergquist and grew up in Orange, graduating from Orange High School in 1957. Following high school, he went on to graduate from the East Coast Aero Tech. Ed served in the United States Army, and was stationed in Sandy Hook, New Jersey before being Honorably discharged in December of 1965. He was married to Jane E. Whitmore.
    Fascinated by cars and machinery, Ed had worked at the former Cormier's Garage in Orange before going to work at the L. S. Starrett Company in Athol where he worked for 37 years, retiring in 2003 as a Methods Engineer. He was a longtime member of the Carb's Club, the Central Mass. Steam, Gas, and Machinery Association, as well as a founder of the club, the 97's Car Club, and the Rolling Bones Club in Saratoga, NY. During the 50's and 60's, Ed raced cars at the Orange Drag Strip and was a technical advisor. He also had raced cars on ice during this time as well. He had a passion for restoring antique tractors, model steam engines, old gas engines, and old cars and trucks, and several steam whistles. He owned and restored a 1951 Ford truck for years, calling it his everyday beater, as well as a 1932 5-window Ford coupe with a blown flathead engine, that he won many awards for and considered his pride and joy. He was working on a 1929 Essex roadster with a Hudson engine, a "ratrod". Many of these projects were accomplished with his cousin, Roger Bergquist, with Ed doing the mechanics . and Roger doing the body work. Ed also enjoyed his frogs and frog pond
    Survivors include his wife, Jane E. Whitmore of Athol; four sons, James and his wife, Liz of Athol, Daniel, Steven, and Robert, all of Orange; four grand- children, Robert, Kyle, Amanda, and Zachary; a step son, Gregory Whitmore and his wife, Kim of Sportsylvania,VA; two step grandchildren, Jack J and Joel Whitmore; brother Richard Bergquist and his wife, Sonya from Amherst; sister in law, Loretta Bergquist from Orange; and his cousin, Roger Bergquist who was like a brother to Ed, and his wife, Rachel, of Warwick. He was predeceased by two brothers, John and Donald Bergquist. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2005 at Witty's Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, at 11:00am. Interment will be in the spring in Central Cemetery, Orange, at a date and time to be announced. Calling hours will be Friday evening, December 9th from 6-8pm at the funeral home.
    In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Building Fund, CMSGMA,P.O. Box 32, Orange, MA 01364, or to the Oncology Dept., Athol Memorial Hospital 2033 Main Street Athol, MA. Witty's Funeral Home, Orange is directing the arrangements .. Guest register and directions - available at www.wittyfuneralhome.com