Edwin Henry Dittenbir (Eddy), age 72, passed away peacefully at home on November 10, 2022 with his wife, Margaret, by his side, holding his hand. He never lost his positive outlook while he courageously battled ALS after being diagnosed in March.

Eddy was born in Sanger, California on July 30, 1950 the only child of Henry and Thelma Dittenbir, and graduated from Sanger High School in 1968. He then served in the Navy aboard the USS Ranger Aircraft Carrier as an Ordnance Mechanic from June 1970 to April 1972, during the Vietnam era. When he returned from the service he worked at the IRS for a short time and then took a job as a dam operator at Pine Flat Lake where he worked for over ten years.

Pine Flat Lake held more than work for Eddy, as it was at the lake he met his future wife. Eddy married Margaret O'Connell in 1979 in Orland, California and together they settled in Sanger to start their new home life and family.

In 1984 he took a job as a hydrographer for Kings River Water Association, a job he loved until he retired in March 2021. He often spoke of the snow surveys he conducted that involved helicopter flights up into the high Sierras. Another aspect of his work was taking river water measurements of his beloved Kings River and his daily  "Car 3 Morning Reports."

Eddy was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman, he loved  fishing, hiking, boating and water skiing. No one could even begin to count the number of people he took out on the lake and taught to ski. When his girls were in high school, he was their biggest fan at all their sports events including basketball, volleyball, and water polo.

Above all else, Eddy loved his family and was very proud of them. He spent many hours on the golf course with his sons-in-law and had many special times with other family members out on the links. As Grandpa, he treasured his time with his grandkids, playing with them and sharing his love of the outdoors and sports. He enjoyed working in the yard with his dog  KJ keeping him company. In recent years, he was able to spend time with friends and family in his man-cave surrounded by his favorite things, including his San Francisco Giants treasures. He was proud of the morning workouts and exercise routines he had developed to keep himself fit.

Eddy was a wonderful husband, a great dad, and the ultimate grandpa. He went from being an only child to joining a large Irish family who embraced and loved him. He was a kind, quiet gentleman, always willing to help others and becoming a friend to all he met. He was steady and patient, with a big heart and a warm smile. He was taken far too soon and will be dearly missed. He left all who loved him a beautiful gift of happy memories.

Eddy is survived by his wife, Margaret; his daughter, Courtney, her husband Josh Ireland and grandchildren Kennedy and Emerson; his daughter, Emily, her husband Chris Shafer and grandchildren Keira and Kellan; his sisters-in-law, Kathy O'Connell and Eileen Moore; and brothers-in-law, Dan O'Connell and wife Bobbie, and Jim O'Connell and wife Margaret; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Eddy on Friday, November 18 ^th at the San Joaquin Country Club in Fresno at 2:00 pm.

For those who wish to make a charitable donation in Eddy's name, the family suggests Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno (ccdof.org -149 N Fulton St, Fresno, CA 93701) or your favorite charity.