Edward Munson

Edward Diller Munson, 85, husband of Ann (Myers) Munson, died peacefully on Wednesday, October 12, 2016, in his home in Birmingham, Alabama.

Born September 9, 1931, in Mexico, Missouri, he was the son of the late Harry D. and Sadie B. Munson.

“Eddie,” as he was known throughout his childhood, grew up on a farm outside of Centralia, MO, and completed his elementary education in the same one-room school house his father attended in the early 1900’s. As a teenager, he attained the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts and proudly carried his identification card in his wallet the rest of his life. After graduating from Centralia High School in 1949, he attended Central College for two years in Fayette, MO, where he met and married his wife in 1954, then went to the University of Missouri for one year before military service interrupted his formal education for four years.

During his military service, he attended the Aviation Cadet program, received his commission to become a rated Navigator, and served the rest of his active duty time as an Instructor Navigator.

After completing his military service, he reentered his beloved University of Missouri, receiving a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering in 1958, went to work for the Missouri State Division of Health and was awarded a stipend to further his education, and received an M.S. in Sanitary Engineering in 1960.

In 1962, he moved his now-growing family to Texas and started his career as a consulting engineer. During this period of time, he remained involved in the United States Air Force Reserves and retired in 1981 as a Lt. Col. His last military assignment was serving as the Commander of the 147th Civil Engineering Flight, Texas Air National Guard, at Ellington Air Force Base.

His nearly 50-years working in the engineering field took him from Texas, to Georgia, to Pennsylvania, and finally to Alabama where he continued working well past the age of retirement. His life was not all work as he was an active member of more than one Birmingham Bridge Club where he enjoyed playing duplicate bridge with many partners over the years.

He is survived by his wife Ann Munson; sons Brent and his wife Beckie of Orlando, FL and Bryan and his wife Jennie of Goode, VA; his daughter Andrea and her husband Mike of Concord, NC; 7 grandchildren, Chris and his wife Kate, Erin, Rachel, Hannah, Nathan, Allison, and Kirk; 2 great-grandchildren, Siena and Dallas.

There will be a Service of Celebration and Remembrance with family and friends Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in the chapel at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, 2061 Kentucky Ave., Vestavia Hills, AL. Visitation with family will begin at 2 p.m. with service following at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The University of Missouri General Scholarship Fund in memory of Ed Munson. Please send checks to Office of Gift Processing, 407 Reynolds Alumni Center, Columbia, MO 65211.