Eddie Wardlow Junior, was born June 9, 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio to Eddie Y. Wardlow and Jennie Mae (Jackson) Wardlow. He was the eldest of four children and the only son. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and attended Cleveland Public Schools. He graduated from East Technical High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, and an elite runner for the track team at East Tech. He received many track awards and even set a record that stood for many years. He later attended Baldwin Wallace College on an academic scholarship, where he majored in Chemistry and continued his love of running as a member of the track team at Baldwin Wallace.

After graduation, he was hired by Standard Oil of Ohio as a Research Chemist in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. Standard Oil was later purchased by British Petroleum (BP), and Eddie remained there until his retirement at the age of 65.

At the age of 16, Eddie met the love of his life, Nancy Beavers, who was just 15 at the time. They married six years later on June 13, 1953 in Cleveland, Ohio. Eddie began his relationship with Christ at St. Peters AME Zion Church, under the leadership of Reverend Saint Clair Williams. At St. Peter’s, he was a member of the Trustee Board, served as a Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop #257, and served in many other capacities while at Saint Peter’s, where he was a member for over 60 years.

On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Eddie passed peacefully at Cleveland Clinic Hospital.

Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, and his dear sister, Gladys Williams. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 72 years, Nancy Beavers Wardlow, his three children, Michael (Stephanie), Jennifer Washington (Caldwell) and Elaine James (Terry), 5 grandchildren, Mark, Patrice, Matthew, Brandon and Isaiah, one great grandson, Jayson, his loving sisters, Jewel Smith, and Lois Shealy, along with a sister-in-law, Mary E Beavers, two brothers-in-law, William G. Beavers (Vera) and Samuel R. Beavers (Julia), along with a host of loving nieces, nephews, and friends.