[Critique Group 1] Marcia's June submission

[Marcia Wick]

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.

 

DOD

Marcia J. Wick

June 2020

Word Count: 500 

 

 

 

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 380th Bomb Group of the 5th 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.

 

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. 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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. 

 

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.

 

Ed is survived by six children, Ed Jr., Victoria, Marcia and Jennifer of
Colorado Springs; David of Vail, CO; and Gillian of Laramie, WY.

 

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