Edwin Lee Bateman peacefully transitioned from this earthly life to his heavenly life on Saturday, January 23, 2021 in Dallas, Texas at the age of 75. Although he was spiritually ready, he really didn’t want to go as there were still so many things he needed to organize; people to meet; phone calls to make; events to attend; stories to tell. He felt like his work here still wasn’t done. God had other plans. You may have read the Poem by Linda Ellis titled “The Dash”. The premise being that the birth and death dates written on our tombstones, while seemingly important, don’t reveal the fact that the true importance of our life lies in “The Dash.” Ed’s dash was defined by love, devotion, service, joy, laughter, work and education. Ed was born in 1945 in Dallas, Texas to Samuel and Roberta Bateman and grew up in wonderful Oak Cliff (Dallas), Texas. He attended Cowart Elementary School, Stockard Junior High School and Kimball High School – graduating in 1964. Through the years he was very active in working with his much beloved classmates organizing various school reunions. Oh, the stories he would tell about life with his friends and growing up in Oak Cliff. Ed was a very humble overachiever. He took great joy in lifelong learning and took every chance to encourage others to do the same. He received multiple Masters Degrees in Public Administration, Applied Economics and City & Regional Planning from the University of North Texas and the University of Texas at Arlington. He served as a Dallas Firefighter for 28 years (where he was awarded Rookie of the Year) and as a City Planner in Dallas for 11 years. He also served in the Army National Guard from 1968 to 1974 receiving recognition as an M-14/M-16 Expert. He regaled others with many stories of his stints in the military as a parachutist. People mattered to Ed – I mean they really mattered. Your lives weren’t superficial to him. You were real. He had to know your story – he had to know you. When you were with Ed, he was fully present and engaged. He let you know that at that point in time, you were the most important thing on earth. That’s because at that exact point in time, you really were. You mattered. Ed’s life was dedicated to public service – service to his family, friends, the Dallas Fire Department, the military, Boy Scouts, Rotary Club, Lions Club (2020 Lion of the Year), Historic Preservation Society, American Legion, CERT, Midlothian Planning & Zoning Commission, church and so many other service organizations! There just weren't enough hours in the day for the service he felt called to. Being an old soul, Ed had a deep passion for history and historical research. His greatest regret was that God was calling him even while he still had books that needed to be written and stories that needed to be told. Edwin was preceded in death by his father, Samuel, his mother Roberta and his brother Robert. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Teresa, two sons Stuart and Christopher Bateman, two daughters Rebecca Moss and Elizabeth (Libby) Ashton, three grandchildren, his brother George Bateman and sister Patrica Haley.