WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Paul Edwin "Ed" Rohde III became an outdoorsman at a young age while hunting and fishing with his father. The former owner of Ed's Gun and Bow died of heart failure Thursday (Dec. 18, 2003) at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 56. "Outdoors was his life. Turkey hunting, deer hunting, quail hunting. He would go on western hunts in Texas, Georgia, Alabama," his wife of 33 years, Barbara D. Rohde said. The lifelong resident was born in Winter Haven on Nov. 18, 1947. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Mr. Rohde, whose son also became an Eagle Scout, remained active with the scouts throughout much of his life. He graduated from Winter Haven High School, Polk Community College, and St. Leo College. He worked in the industry long before purchasing Ed's Gun and Bow, a business that he operated for more than 10 years. "He was probably one of the only gunsmiths around. He did gunsmithing for people all over the United States. He had customers from all over," Barbara Rohde said. Mr. Rohde enjoyed bowling and was a member of several bowling leagues in the area. Within the past few years, he had become active in the Senior Olympics. "Two weeks ago, he did the skeet and trap and won three gold medals for his group," Barbara Rohde said. He was an Air Force veteran and a member and charter president of the National Wild Turkey Federation for the past 10 years. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and the National Rifle Association. He was a member of the National Shooting Sport Federation and the Winter Haven Skeet Club. He was a city commissioner in Winter Haven from 1975 to 1977 and served as mayor pro tempore. He was a Baptist. In addition to his wife, Mr. Rohde is survived by his son, Mitchell Rohde, Lakeland; daughter, Jennifer Williamson, Lakeland; sisters, Marilyn Buchannan, Melbourne, Linda Maxwell, Kingsport, Tenn. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Crisp-Coon Funeral Chapel, Winter Haven. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Rolling Hills Cemetery, Winter Haven. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boy Scouts of America, Troop No. 123, or the Winter Haven Police Department K-9 Account.