Edward Howard (“Bear”) Winant, age 54, passed away in Bangkok, Thailand on November 22nd, 2022, after recent heart problems.

Edward was born on the 17th of November 1968 to Walter & Jean Winant in South Burlington, Vermont. He graduated from Shady Spring High School, WV, in 1985 and went on to attend West Virginia University achieving a BS in Civil Engineering in 1989, an MS in Civil Engineering in 1992, and a PhD in History of Technology in 1996.

After graduating, Edward started a career in Environmental Engineering in parallel with his lifelong work in public service, including the Peace Corps in Cameroon, and several trips to Africa with Engineers Without Borders.

In 2009 Ed joined the US State Department and went to his first posting in Liberia. There he met and married his wife, Dinah Zeltser. He went on to postings in Kazakhstan and South Africa, returning to DC for the birth of his beloved daughter, Freyja in 2016.

Next Ed joined the US Agency for International Development, and supported projects in Nepal, Vietnam, Bangladesh and South Africa from DC and most recently from Bangkok, Thailand.

Ed was predeceased by his father, Walter Winant, and cousin Beth Corfman. He is survived by wife Dinah Zeltser, daughter Freyja Winant, mother Jean Winant, mother-in-law Serafima Nudelman, father-in-law Mark Zeltser, brother David Winant (wife Sherry), nephews Joseph Winant and Samuel Winant, and cousins Tom Melton (wife Linda), David Melton, Roy Melton, Eric Bachmann, Austin Bachmann (wife Elaine), Anna Bachmann, Thea Law, Charles Haeberle (wife Carol), John Winant (wife Jane), Robert Winant (wife Kristen), Phil Winant, and Kathy Osborne (husband Jamie). Also numerous aunts, uncles, family members and friends.

Ed, like his father, had a love for model railroading. He commissioned a train layout which could be broken into sections for shipping, and it went with him to all his postings. He enjoyed canoeing, reading, traveling, entertaining, making new friends, and WVU football, but above all spending time with Dinah and Freyja.

Ed was warm-hearted, hard-working and giving, and made friends easily. He has dear friends literally all over the world. He was deeply loved by family and friends alike, and his passing leaves a bear-shaped hole in all our hearts.

Services are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Heifer International, an organization Edward felt strongly about, or to the Peace Corps (https://www.peacecorps.gov/do…) for which he and both his parents volunteered.

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