Edward Hanks Sproat II entered his eternal rest on February 3, 2023, at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville, FL.
Ed was born in 1938 to Edward Hanks Sproat, Sr. and Edna Mae Brown Sproat in Iowa Falls, Iowa. He earned his Eagle Scout rank and graduated from Clinton High School and the University of Iowa where, as a Nile Kinnick Scholar, he earned a BS in Mathematics in 1961. There, he was an active member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He played football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and went to the Rose Bowl with the University of Iowa as a freshman.
He married Sandy Mason, his wife of 59 years, in Chicago, where they were both employed. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
Ed joined the Army Corps of Engineers after college, then was employed by Western Electric as an engineer. Over the course of his career, his positions in the Bell system took him to Illinois, Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York.
During the years the family lived in New Jersey, Ed particularly enjoyed coaching boys’ and girls’ soccer and boys’ basketball. As a coach, he developed a strong rapport with the young men and women; they adored him and appreciated his strategic approach to success in school and life.
Ed’s towering figure might have been intimidating, but he was a friendly, gentle, and quiet man who loved life and was exceptionally kind and generous. He will also be remembered for his great sense of humor and was known for treating everyone respectfully and equally in both work and play.
Known as “Grandfather” to his nine grandchildren, he frequently received calls from them with requests for advice, or just to chat. He celebrated the lives and successes of his children and their spouses and, always the proud Dad, had a listening ear and advice for them.
In retirement, Ed enjoyed golfing, biking, playing poker and bridge, travel, reading, studying history, and tutoring Fernandina math students and amusing himself with jigsaw puzzles and finding that one last missing piece. Ed’s participation with Take Stock in Children’s mentoring program was a highlight in his life, always believing in promoting the future of youth – his own as well as others. He valued his many friendships dearly.

He was a devoted member of the Amelia Plantation Chapel where he served on the board, as chair of the Outreach Committee, and had recently joined the Finance Committee.

Ed is survived by his wife, Sandra Mason Sproat; children, Gregory Hanks Sproat, Deborah Sproat Marler (Reif Marler), and Jeffrey Mason Sproat, Sr. (Marla Schulte); grandchildren, Kristen Mae Sproat, Edwards Hanks Sproat III, Kendall Michelle Sproat, James Carlton Marler, Benjamin Hanks Marler, Lauren Lee Sproat, Katherine Lillian Sproat, Megan Carolyn Sproat, and Jeffrey Mason Sproat, Jr.; his sister, Patricia Sproat Wegner (Hugh Kellogg); and his sister-in-law, Trudy Mason.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Ed’s name to the Amelia Plantation Chapel Outreach Program, 36 Bowman Road, Amelia Island, Florida 32034 or to Boys & Girls Club Nassau County Foundation, PO Box 16003, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32035-3117.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, at the Amelia Plantation Chapel, 36 Bowman Road, Amelia Island, Florida 32034.