Obituary of Edward Knowlden

Edward I. Knowlden, 95 years young, of Vestal, NY, died on Thanksgiving Day, 23 November, 2017, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was predeceased by Juanita, his wife of almost 58 years, and his brothers Philip, Eugene, and James. He is survived by his brothers Kenneth and Robert (known as Bruce in the family). He is also survived by his daughter Judith Wilbur (Jay), son Robert, grandson Peter Kaskan (Cheyenne), and granddaughter Emily Kaskan. From his father's small farm, Ed volunteered for the Army Air Force during World War II. He served as co-pilot of a B17G Flying Fortress. The plane was shot down by the Germans during a massive raid on Berlin in 1944. He was a POW for a year and a day. After the war, he worked as an electrician for a few years before joining IBM. Ed worked there for more than 30 years, retiring in 1984. In retirement, he refurbished and expanded a cottage in Sylvan Beach, NY, where he and Juanita spent the summer hours fishing on Oneida Lake. Juanita died in 2011. Beginning in 2014, Ed began spending his winters in Las Cruces, near his daughter Judy and her husband Jay. Ed died quietly there, after a brief illness, on Thanksgiving Day, in Judy's loving presence. Ed was a shining example of why people of his time are referred to as the Greatest Generation. He will be missed. A memorial service will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, 9 December 2017, at the Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home LLC at 765 Main Street, Vestal, NY