Tedford Valentine Eidson passed away peacefully at his home on May 21, 2023. Ted was born in Meigs Georgia on November 1, 1932, to George T and Audrey Pilcher Eidson. He moved to Orlando in 1934 with his parents and his brother, George and sister, Ann. Ted attended Marks Street School, Memorial Junior High School, Orlando High School and the University of Florida. He enlisted in the army and served in Korea.
Upon returning to Orlando, Ted joined his father’s insurance agency and had a successful career as an insurance agent and commercial realtor. As president of Eidson Insurance, he took a personal interest in his clients and considered his employees part of his extended family.
Ted cared deeply about his community. He helped create Lake Highland Preparatory School, the Downtown Development Board and the Florida Symphony Orchestra children’s music program. He chaired the boards of the Central Florida Blood Bank, Sun Bank College Park and Orange Memorial Hospital when it became ORMC. He served as president of the University Club of Orlando and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando and the Country Club of Orlando.
Ted was a man of adventure. He sailed many seas, golfed and hunted at home and abroad, traveled near and far with family and friends, and had a passion for bird hunting with his poodle pointers, Spice, Ginger and Sweet Basil.
Ted’s friendships lasted lifetimes and spanned generations. He took a special interest in young people and mentoring them through adulthood.
His greatest love was for his wife of 65 years, Betty Branham. He adored his daughters, Mary Elizabeth and Laura, and his granddaughters, Beth and Sara. Their husbands, Carlisle, Mark, David and Jim, were sons to him and he doted on his great-grandchildren, Caroline, James, Cal and Landon. He was a wonderful Uncle Ted to his nieces and nephews and their children.