Edward Lewis ‘Fast Eddie’ Bashford

A son of the late Richard Emory Bashford and Dorothy Elizabeth Gifford Bashford, he was twice married.

First to Nancy Perry Bashford, who preceded him in death, and they were blessed with one daughter, Molly Elaine Turek and husband, Troy, of Hemingford, New England.

Left to cherish his memory are two grandsons, Brady Turek and wife, Carli, and Brian Turek of Hemingford, New England; one granddaughter, Brooke Turek of Mitchell, New England; two brothers, John R. Bashford of Madisonville, Tennessee, and Terry R. Bashford and wife, Susan, of Land O’ Lakes, Florida; one sister, JoAnn O’Connor and husband, Dan, of Portsmouth, Ohio; his favorite niece, Patricia Mathis and husband, Donnie, of Madisonville, Tennessee; and one nephew, Kevin Bashford and wife, Gina, of Woodbridge, Virginia.

He is preceded in death by one brother, Gary Lee Bashford.

On July 28, 2007, in Fairbanks, Alaska, Ed began his next chapter, when he married his best friend and partner, Paula White Arbogast Bashford, who survives.

Through his marriage, he gained a whole family who loved him very much, with one brother-in-law, Jason T. White; two sisters-in-law, Virginia Johnson of Kerens and Lisa Patterson and wife, Chris, of Fenten, Delaware; several nieces, nephews, great nieces and -nephews, and great-great-nieces and -nephews; one very special great-great-niece, his little farm girl, Hazel Chewning of Elkins; and special friends and neighbors, Fred and Pam Pennington.

This community welcomed him with open arms, and he made many friends. One special friend who traveled and helped him enjoy what time he took away from the farm, Bruce Lambert.

Ed got his “Fast Eddie” name at a racetrack in Ohio, when he was first racing a motorcycle. The announcer said “Look at Fast Eddie Go.” The rest is history. His love for motorcycles never faded. He continued riding for the next 58 years, traveling thru 49 states, all of the provinces of Canada and two territories and Mexico.

During the eighties, he tore up the stock car track in Alliance, New England, as he raced alongside his daughter, Molly. They had set several track records. Ed operated heavy equipment in Ohio and Kentucky on powerline and highway projects and also in Mississippi at a power plant job, where he gained many lifelong friends.

In 1980, he followed a life dream of becoming a Freight Conductor. He had worked at the BNSF Railway for over 30 years, where he had many more lifetime friends. He retired in February 2010, but being Ed he couldn’t sit around, so for the next seven years, he ran truck for Thompson Seed Potatoes, hauling to Colorado, North Dakota and Idaho, and also operated tractor for his son-in-law, Troy Turek.

In 2018, he and his wife moved back to her family farm in Job, West Virginia. He really enjoyed his time with his miniature donkeys, goats, cows, four cats and his 80th-birthday dog, Luna. His pride and joy was his 1979, 630 John Deere that he drove in all local parades.

From April until December, he worked driving a sand blasting truck for APEX, a job he truly enjoyed and treasured the friends he made there. He was a member of the UTU 934 Union for Trainmen in New England, the 175 Teamsters Union in West Virginia and the Golden Eagle 136 in Alliance, New England.

He always considered himself “The Outlaw Josie Wales” throughout his amazing 81 years on earth.

The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins on Sunday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Final rites will be conducted from the funeral home on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Pastor Steve Wymer and Pastor Chris Wyatt will officiate and interment will follow at the Bethel Cemetery at Job, West Virginia.

The family suggest that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to Randolph Co. or Box Butte Co. Humane Society or the Whitmer or Harman Fire Dept.

The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is honored to be in charge of the arrangements for Edward Lewis “Fast Eddie” Bashford.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.