Rev. Edgar E. Filbey

Edgar E. Filbey, proud choirboy at St John’s Cathedral in Manhattan, beloved father, grandpa, uncle, brother, and  friend was born August 24, 1930, in Bayonne, New Jersey to Rev. Edgar J. and Margaret Schild Filbey.  Edgar received a B.A. degree from North Central College in 1953 and a B.D. degree from Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1957, and was ordained in 1958.   He received his M.A. from Columbia University Teacher’s College, specializing in vocational guidance and counseling psychology, with an emphasis on rehabilitation counseling.

Rev. Filbey was married and served as pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church in New York City.  He came to Indianapolis as a chaplaincy intern for Methodist Hospital of Indiana and became Director of Pastoral Education, also serving as the Chaplain of the Children’s Pavilion and cofounding the Buchanan Counseling  Center.  Following retirement, he became the first Chaplain at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana.

His passion was to be of service to others.

Ed was an accomplished amateur magician and was inducted in to Ring 10 of the Society of American Magicians, receiving his 50 year award in 2018.  He loved to entertain adults and children, and performed unforgettably for his family and others across the city and state – giving so many the joy of a balloon animal that he wrung to life in front of them.  Music was a passion, beginning as a choir boy, picking up the harmonica, and singing his beloved hymns, harmonizing even to the end, when communication was difficult.

He married Lola McKinley in 1954, who predeceased him; as did his son, David.  He later married Rev. Doris Woodruff in 2001, and they recently celebrated 21 years of marriage.

He is survived by wife Doris; children, Kevin Filbey (Wendy), Susan Rossi (Rev. Louis Rossi) and daughter-in-law, Sarah Filbey Quigg.  Ed is also survived by his grandchildren, Lindsey, Alison, Bridget, Jonathan, Anna, Louis, Bethany, Sarah, Hannah and Olivia; and great grandchildren, Hallie, Haven, Kailyn, Wrangell, Aurora, Luna, Skylin, Lola, Violet, and baby boy soon to be born.  He also leaves behind his stepsons, Glenn (Judy) Woodruff and Jason Woodruff; and step granddaughters, Raimi and Kiri.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Joan Vehslage and Ruth May Brown.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 1pm at Northwood Christian Church, with visitation 1 hour prior to the service.  The service will be livestreamed at indyncc.org and available for later viewing.

Donations may be made to Lawrence United Methodist Church or Northwood Christian Church, both of Indianapolis. Friends are invited to leave online condolences for the family at flannerbuchanan.com.