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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Unusual but earnest, I am drafting my father’s obituary. No, he has not yet passed. I hope this isn’t too uncomfortable for critique, but I’d like to get it right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>DOD<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marcia J. Wick<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>June 2020<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Word Count: 500 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Edward Thomas Walford, 95, an honorable family man, teacher, outdoorsman, and WWII veteran, passed peacefully at his longtime Colorado Springs home XXX. XX, XXXX. He was born Oct. 17, 1924 To Edward and Rosina Walford in Indianapolis, Ind. At age 18, after graduating from Arsenal Technical High School, young Edward enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as a B-24 navigator during WWII. He had never before flown in an airplane or been out of his home state. Assigned to the 380<sup>th</sup> Bomb Group of the 5<sup>th</sup> Air Force, he flew 40 missions over the Pacific out of Darwin, Australia and Mindora Island, Philippines. Everyone in his crew made it home safe.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The returning veteran earned a chemical engineering degree at Purdue University in Indiana where he met Barbara Jean Hall, his future bride. They marries in Washington D.C. Jan. 31, 1948. The couple resided in Baltimore, Washington D.C., England, Michigan, New Mexico, Colorado, and Virginia –six assignments with the Air Force produced six children with six different birth places. After advancing to the rank of lieutenant colonel, Ed retired from his 21-year Air Force career in 1968, and Colorado Springs became the family’s permanent home. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed Walford then launched a second civilian career teaching chemistry at Cheyenne Mountain High School. He co-authored a best-selling high school chemistry textbook, and exchanged a year of teaching with a colleague from England. Once again retired, Ed was honored as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Air Force Academy in XXXX. He will again be honored with a military burial on the beautiful grounds of the AFA at the base of the Rocky Mountains which he loved, rejoining his wife.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed Walford was “DOD” or “Dear Old Dad” to two sons and four daughters; he was “Papo” or “Poppo” (depending upon your persuasion) to four grandsons, four granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren. He was “Mr. Walford” to his high school chemistry students, and “Col. Walford” to cadets at the Air Force Academy. Ed loved to explore the Rocky Mountains. As a member of the Colorado Mountain Club, he summited 33 14ers, and he participated in the Add-a-Man hike up Pikes Peak for New Year’s Eve 1982.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed introduced his six children to downhill skiing at “Cooper Hill,” as the Leadville ski area was known in the early 1960s. Lace up leather boots and cable bindings mounted on long wood skis were the norm. Season lift passes for the family were $7.00 each, and investment of $56 for the hard-working teacher. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A devout Catholic, Ed required his troop of children attend the “skiers’ Mass” with him at 6:00 a.m. before hitting the slopes if it was a Sunday. He encourage his children on hikes with the promise of a Dairy Queen on top. Skiing and hiking with Dad were cherish activities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ed is survived by six children, Ed Jr., Victoria, Marcia and Jennifer of Colorado Springs; David of Vail, CO; and Gillian of Laramie, WY.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal># # #<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>