Edmund James Mazan, a retired Baltimore County highway inspector and aviation buff, died of coronary artery disease Friday at Union Memorial Hospital. He was 78.

Born in Baltimore and raised in Rossville, where he spent most of his life, Mr. Mazan was a 1942 graduate of Kenwood High School. He worked for 37 years as a highway inspector for the county Bureau of Highways, retiring in 1986.

An airplane enthusiast, Mr. Mazan enjoyed designing and building model airplanes.

He attended Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church in Middle River.

Services were held yesterday.

Mr. Mazan is survived by his wife of 56 years, the former Verna Ray Spicer; two sons, David E. Mazan of Rossville and Bernard J. Mazan of Milford, Ohio; two daughters, Nancy Verna Garey of Rossville and Kathleen Marie Santoro of Baldwin; a brother, Melvin J. Mazan of Bel Air; and 11 grandchildren.