ASSISTANT CHIEF EDWIN "E.C." DeBOLT
BADGE 40
SDPD 07/02/1942 - 06/28/1972
06/16/1921 - 04/09/2008
THE THIN BLUE LINE
San Diego Union-Tribune, The (CA) - April 13, 2008
E.C. (Ed) DeBolt passed away peacefully in his sleep Wednesday morning, April 9, 2008. He was 86 years old and had been battling the adverse effects of two strokes suffered seven years ago.
Ed was born in Newton, IA in 1921.
The family moved to Mankato, MN, where he graduated from Mankato High School and attended Teachers College. He left the mid-west in 1939 and came to San Diego, CA, where he was employed by Bekins Moving Company.
He met and later married Shirley N. Brown, his lifelong soulmate. The two celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in June 2007.
At age 21, Ed was hired by the San Diego Police Department, where he served for 30 years until retiring as Assistant Chief of Police (then second in command).
During WWII, Ed DeBolt served two years in the Army, attaining the rank of Technician 5 as a military policeman in the Criminal Investigation Department until his honorable discharge in 1945.
Ed held two jobs most of his life. Besides his police work, he founded San Diego Van & Storage Company, and worked to develop it into the largest moving company in San Diego and the original Mayflower agent in the county.
He was a past president of the Hillcrest Lions Club, a 32nd Degree Mason, a Peace Officers Shriner, a member of the Cabinet of Mayflower Transit, and past president of the San Diego Chapter of the California Moving and Storage Association.
Preceded in death by his daughter, Joyce Derrick in 1993, he is now survived by his wife, Shirley N. DeBolt; son, Richard DeBolt (Diane) of San Diego, CA; daughter, Elaine McFarland (Robert) of Carlsbad, CA; sister, Maebelle Ellies and brother Max DeBolt, both of Winona, MN; sister, Maxine McGill (Milton) of Chula Vista, CA; four grandchildren, Damon Hein (Vince), Dee Hein, Matt McFarland (Jonna), Heather Dunaway (Jeremy); three year old great-grandson E.C. Dunaway, and eighteen month old great-granddaughter, Paige Joyce McFarland.
A most wonderful man in every respect, his passing leaves a great void in our lives.
Sergeant 10/01/1953
Lieutenant 05/01/1958
Captain 07/08/1960
Inspector 10/28/1966
Assistant Chief 02/09/1968
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