Goldsboro – Mr. Edgar Lee Best, 79, died Monday at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.

A native of Wayne County, he was the son of the late Samuel Preston Best and Effie Worley Best and was a retired bookkeeper with 15 years of service at Cobb Distributing Company. Mr. Best was a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Marine Corps and was awarded the Purple Heart. During his time of service, Mr. Best served in Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Salvation Army Church.

Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home Chapel with Captain Greg Davis and Major Paul Kirkpatrick officiating. Burial will follow in Wayne Memorial Park.

He is survived by his wife, Emmie Lee Whaley Best; a son, William (Bill) Edgar Best of Goldsboro; daughters, Linda Carol Jackson of Dudley, Rebecca Diane Howell of Omaha, NE and Becky Lynn Uzzell of Kinston, N.C; a sister, Myrtle Best Honrine and Thelma Gray Best of Goldsboro; grandchildren, Tammy Jackson Lancaster, Andy Jackson, Chris Howell, Kelley Curtis, Kevin Howell, Kim Howell and Katie Best and eleven great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home and other times at the home Bill and Jean Best, 2513 Norwood Avenue, Goldsboro.