Edward Stephen Koziel

Edward Stephen Koziel, 90, of Bluffton, S.C., passed away October 7, 2024.

Ed was born September 2, 1934, in Southampton, N.Y., to the late Jan “John” Koziel and Ludwika “Lucy” (née Oko) Koziel. Ed grew up in Southampton (Long Island) with sisters Genevieve and Helen and brother Stanley. Ed grew up in Kearney, NJ. Ed was gifted in sports; he won the 1949 Newark Star Ledger Ping Pong Tournament and played quarterback for the Harrison High School football team. Ed joined the U.S. Army at 19 proudly serving as PVT-1 from 1953 to 1955 and deployed for a year-and-a-half in Korea. With assistance from the GI Bill, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey in 1960. In college, Ed played soccer and eventually was an alumi into the college soccer hall of fame. Upon graduation, Ed pursued a career in sales and marketing with M&T Chemicals.

Ed married Delores Wolczanski that same year, settling in Edison, New Jersey. There Ed and Delores made a loving home for their 3 children, eventually moving the family from New Jersey to Medina, Ohio, where Ed continued his work. There he volunteered as soccer coach for St. Xavier Catholic School for years. Career opportunities took Ed and Delores to Virginia and then to Maryland in the late 1980s. Ed retired from Durawear Corporation after 22 years. Upon retiring he and Delores moved to Sun City in Bluffton, South Carolina. There Ed enjoyed playing in the Men’s Softball League for many years as an outfielder and then as team statistician. He also spent many happy times with family and friends on Hilton Head Island, S.C., golfing and spending time on the beach. He took pleasure in traveling abroad to Europe and much enjoyed driving his golf cart around with his dog, Buttons. He found humor in the idea of someone finding a golf ball that he had thrown onto a course that had “show this ball for a free round of golf” written on it in black Sharpie.

Ed will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 64 years, Delores; daughter, Kathleen Kelvington (Richard) of Waldorf, Maryland; son, Edward Koziel (Sarah) of Gambrills, Maryland; son-in-law, James Paris of Matthews, N.C.; grandchildren, Alyssa Kelvington, Jillian Paris, Ansley Paris, James Paris, Craig Koziel and Andrew Koziel; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ed is predeceased by his beloved daughter Karen Paris (2023); parents, John and Lucy Koziel; sisters Genevieve Anderssons and Helen Burke; and brother Stanley Koziel.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 18, 2024, at Historic St. Peter’s Church, 710  Carteret Street, Beaufort, S.C. 29902. A committal service with military honors will follow at noon at Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary St., Beaufort. Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton is assisting the family with arrangements.