Floyd Edwin (“Eddie”) Carden

Floyd Edwin (“Eddie”) Carden, 77, of Durham, passed away Monday, December 5, 2022, after a brief illness. Eddie was born in Durham, NC on February 17, 1945 and was the middle of three children of the late George Floyd Carden and Martha James Carden of Durham. After a full childhood in the historic Durham everyone reads about, Eddie served in the Army during the Vietnam era, stationed in Ethiopia. Upon his return home, he became an engineer with IBM, where he enjoyed a celebrated career of over 40 years before retiring in 2012. While there, he not only made many lifelong friends, but he also met his loving wife of thirty years, Marie Sides Carden.

When not working, Eddie could be found playing golf, going for a run around the neighborhood, cheering on his Duke Blue Devils, working the concession stand at Wallace Wade Stadium, rolling down the windows for a Sunday drive, or sharing a Sunday afternoon meal with the Carden family at his mom’s, or sister’s house. After retirement, his joys in life became spending time with his family and grandchildren, taking care of his dogs and cat, and becoming the deer whisperer of the neighborhood, feeding them out of his hand in his backyard on a nightly basis.

Always game to surprise you with a joke or unexpected late night visiting or talking on the phone, Eddie loved to be around friends and family; a trait that he displayed right up until the end.

Preceding Eddie in death are his wife, Marie Sides Carden of Durham; parents, George Floyd Carden and Martha James Carden of Durham; and his sister and brother-in-law, Annie Laura Copley and Alton Lafayette Copley of Durham.

Surviving are his son, Ed Carden and his wife, Angela, of Forney, TX, and stepsons Rob Griffin, and his wife Veronica, of Raleigh, NC and Wade Griffin, and his partner Sarah Sealey, of Morganton NC; his granddaughters, Ashlyn and Kaitlyn Carden, also of Forney, TX, his granddaughter, Eleanor Griffin, and grandson, Everett Griffin, both of Raleigh, NC; sister, Barbara Story and her husband, Mike, of Stem, NC; nephews Tom Copley and his wife Gena, of Beech Mountain, NC, and Larry Rigsbee and his wife, Nychole, of Butner, NC; nieces Becky Fowler of Durham, NC, Susan Copley Johnson of Huston, TX and Cathy Rigsbee, and her partner, Donna Garner of Butner, NC; as well as many loving great nieces and nephews who will miss him dearly.

The family would like to thank the medical staff at Duke Regional Hospital, especially the nurses and doctors of section 5200, for all of their attention and care for Eddie in his final days.

Eddie’s final wishes were to lay by Marie’s side for eternity. A graveside ceremony and burial will be held at Burke Memorial Park in Morganton NC on Sunday, December 11, 2022, at 2 pm, with the Rev. Dr. Steve Parker officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in the name of Eddie Carden, to: Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.

Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.