Luther Edwin Efford III, 90, of Bedford passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 from injuries related to a fall at his home. Edwin was born September 20, 1926 in Ocran, Virginia to Luther Edwin Efford, Jr. and Florida Gay (Pierce) Efford. He was soon joined by a brother, Warren Pierce, and sisters Peggy and Betty Gay. Edwin graduated from White Stone High School in 1944, one of ten graduates. After working briefly in Baltimore, he returned to Virginia and worked for many years as an insurance agent for Nationwide and later as a collections agent for State Planters Bank, United Virginia Bank and SunTrust Bank. Unable to sit still after retiring from the bank in 1985 at age 59, he found work as a courier for Chesapeake Bank and continued working there until he faced declining health at age 87.

Edwin was lucky to see adulthood. When he was three, he fell into a horse trough and almost drowned. At six, his parents’ house burned down. And when he was seven, he came down with kidney nephritis and was given a 1 chance to live by his doctor. Through all of this, he survived.

Edwin loved to dance, and in some circles was known as “Fast Eddie” because of his twirls and flamboyance doing the jitterbug. He met his first wife, Joan Galpin of London, England, at the Tantilla Garden dance hall in Richmond, and within six months he swept her off her feet and they began a marriage that lasted 48 years. At age 90 in 2016, Edwin was still twirling around the dance floor at both his daughter's and grandson's weddings.

A mild-tempered, easygoing man, Edwin never drank alcohol, would walk around an argument, and faced life’s difficulties with even-handed acceptance. His constant positive outlook was noticed and admired by everyone.

Edwin is survived by his wife, Phyllis (Lewis) Efford of Ottoman; his sister Betty Gay Dawson of Lively; a son Richard Efford of Springfield; daughters Brenda Gay Simmons of Goode and Jennie Sue Efford of Lynchburg; eight grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. He was loved and will also be missed by his many stepchildren and step grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a. m. Monday, July 24, 2017 at Currie Funeral Home, Kilmarnock, Virginia. Interment will follow the service at White Marsh Cemetery, 11040 Mary Ball Road (S. R. 3), Lancaster, Virginia. Family will receive friends 2 to 4 p. m. Sunday, July 23 at the funeral home.