Edwin F Sheets

     Edwin Frederick Sheets was born in Follansbee, West Virginia, to Earl and Grace Sheets on September 11, 1923.

     Ed had a difficult childhood after the death of his father when he was 2 years old, and stepfather when he was 8, so when he was 16, he lied about his age so he could join the military.  He served with the Army, fighting in Europe in WWII for which he received the bronze star.  One life changing experience was liberating prisoners from a concentration camp near the end of the war.

     After his honorable discharge he moved to the Seattle - Tacoma area and explored a variety of jobs.  In 1951 he decided it was time to get his GED and take advantage of the GI Bill. He enrolled at DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago, and after graduating was hired on by the Boeing Co.  He started in 1952 as an electronics technician, and later went into management.  He worked on defense and aerospace programs, including the Bomarc Missile and the Lunar Rover Vehicles.

     In February 1957 he met Malinda (Linda) Moerer and they were married on November 2, 1957.   Their only child, Corrie, was born in 1960 and Ed was a very happy, proud, and supportive father.

     The family took many trips to Minnesota to visit Linda’s brother’s farm during harvest time.  Ed especially loved these trips as he was allowed to drive the big combines.

     He retired from Boeing in 1989, and was able to spend more time doing the things he loved.  He was very active in his church (Bethlehem Lutheran), serving in a variety of leadership roles, and helping with Vacation Bible School and other activities. 

     He and Linda liked to travel, and took trips to California, Kentucky, Michigan, and New York, to visit Corrie and son-in-law Brian, and another to Mississippi to visit his brother, retired US ambassador Robert Pugh, and sister-in-law, Thelma.  They also enjoyed visiting Linda’s brother, Bert, sister, Lois, and brother-in-law Ted, in Yakima, where they played many games of pinochle.

     Ed liked puttering in his workshop, and restored many antique radios to working order.  He also enjoyed gardening, working on his N gauge train set, and reading books about early American history.

     Ed passed peacefully at Franciscan Hospice House in University Place on November 12, 2015.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers George and Robert, and sister Lonna.  He is survived by his wife Malinda, daughter Corrie (Brian) Naasz, plus many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

     Ed’s memorial service will be at 11:00 on December 3rd at Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Gig Harbor.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a remembrance to Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care, 2901 Bridgeport Way W, University Place, WA 98466, or online at www.CHIFranciscan.org/Hospice.

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