SPLAIN, EDWARD H.

Edward H. Splain died in his home in Phoenix, AZ on Thursday morning, October 26, 2006, surrounded by his wife and children. Born in New York City on July 21, 1921, Ed grew up in upstate New York. Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1941 on the day after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Ed served during World War II in the Pacific Theater, participating in campaigns on the islands of Tulagi, Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Iwo Jima, At the end of WWII, Ed was assigned to occupation duty at Sasebo Naval Station in Japan. Under the GI Bill, Ed attended and graduated from Colgate University and became a high school teacher, a career cut short by his recall to active duty during the Korean Conflict. After honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in 1951, Ed began his career with the U.S. Government, having permanent duty assignments in China, Ethiopia, South Africa and Vietnam, and temporary duty assignments in other parts of Africa and Europe. In recent years, Ed was active in the VFW Veterans in the Classroom program and with the Joe Foss Institute. He particularly enjoyed his relationship with the students of teacher Barbara Hatch at Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, participating in their Arizona Heritage Project to record the stories of veterans, and his contact with the Young Marines. After 50 years of silence about his experiences in WWII, Ed began to share with young people so that “they would not take our freedom for granted, would know that war is not glorious, it is horrific, and that we all need to work to learn to resolve conflicts without violence.” Ed is survived by his wife Nancy and three children, Eileen Greer, Charles “Chuck” Splain and James Craig Edward Splain; grandchildren Megan Splain and Joshua Splain; son-in-law John Greer; daughters-in-law Judy Splain and Shannon Pentico; brothers Joseph Splain and Eugene Splain; 10 nieces and nephews and their children; his mother-in-law Sylvia Schmidt; and his honorary son and daughter Dr. Shuji Tsuruoka and Yoko Tsuruoka of Tokyo, Japan. Preceding Ed in death were his parents Celia Eileen (O’Connor) Splain and Charles Edward Splain; his brothers Walter Splain and Charles Splain; his father-in-law James A. Schmidt; and his former wife Ellie. Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. at Shepherd of the Hills Congregational Church (UCC), 5524 East Lafayette Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85018 (south of Camelback Road, turning west off 56th Street). Assistance provided by Messinger Indian School Mortuary. Contributions in Ed’s memory may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Congregational Church (UCC) or to the following charity which was close to Ed’s heart and for which he was an avid volunteer and supporter: Beatitudes Center DOAR, 555 West Glendale Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021, a nonprofit, interfaith organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of older adults through services to assist homebound adults to continue living in their own homes, family caregivers, grandparents raising grandchildren and health programs for faith communities.