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Ed Tipton knew how to get a newspaper off the press and on the porch on time.

He started, along with his twin brother, Fred, delivering papers for The Daily Times when they were 13. Ed retired from the paper Oct. 1, 2007, as mail room supervisor.

Before he died Monday at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville at age 72, Ed had worked at The Times for a total of 45 years -- as a pressman, in circulation and in production.

He left the paper on occasion, once moving to Indiana where he met his wife, Barbara, who preceded him in death.

He preached at East Walland Baptist Church. He owned Dude's Grocery Store on Six Mile Road for 18 years.

The Tipton twins were raised at the family home on Wilson Road off Morganton Road. They went to Alnwick School. When Ed and Fred were juniors at Everett High, still carrying papers, they got an offer that helped set their careers in the newspaper business. They were offered part-time jobs in the mail room. Fred retired in 2008 as Daily Times production manager.

Ed was an easy talker. Had an even temperament on the job. Although he had his moments, according to Fred, "just like everybody else."

Ed's missed at the paper. He was a steady presence on the job, especially at times when problems needed fixing.

"That was his biggest thing," Fred said. "If it needed to get done -- get it done."

Edward D. Tipton was buried Thursday at New Providence Primitive Baptist Church.