Edward Walter Battoe -- Career Air Force Member

 

 

 

Edward W. Battoe

Edward Walter Battoe was born on October 10, 1928 in Princeton, Kentucky.  He was the second child of Trevor Everett Battoe and his second wife, Myrtle Eliza Meador.   Edward’s older brother, Robert Trevor, died at the age of three months and his younger brother, Clifton Ray, died in infancy.  His two younger siblings, Lora Dean, born in 1932 and Leroy Delano, born in 1933 lived to adulthood, Edward also had four half-siblings from his father’s first marriage, Faye Lena, born in 1911; Nancy Lucille, born in 1914; Helen Hazel, born in 1916 and James Franklin, born in 1919. 

When he was very young his family moved to the Donaldson Creek community in Trigg County where he spent his early childhood years.   His family later moved to Paducah, Kentucky.

It was while his family lived in Paducah, that Edward enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 24, 1945 after he had only completed one year of high school.  Edward went on to serve 26½ years in service to his country, retiring from the United States Air Force on February 29, 1972.  He saw military service worldwide as well as combat duty in Vietnam.  In Vietnam, he served with the 377th Security Police Squadron at TonSonNhut Air Force Base in 1966 and 1967. He was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with the “V” Device for heroism, a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service and various other medals.  He was assigned to the 3700th Security Police Squadron at the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas in 1967 where he served until his retirement in 1972.  He was an Air Force Senior Master Sergeant at the time of his discharge.

After retiring from the military, Edward started a second career when he founded the Battoe Industries, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas and served as General Manager until his retirement in 1999. The company specialized in greeting cards. 

On April 20, 1950, Edward married his first wife, Geraldine Somers Wickliffe, in Coeur  d ‘Alene, Idaho.  This marriage subsequently ended in divorce.  On October 9, 1955, Edward married his second wife, Dixie Lee Beesley.  Dixie was born on July 15, 1938 in Kansas, the daughter of Albert and Stella Beesley.   Her family moved to Colorado where she resided in Pueblo, Colorado at the time of their marriage.  Edward and Dixie were the parents of two children, Elizabeth Lee Battoe, born on May 4, 1956 and Edward Walter Battoe II, born on July 20, 1957.

Edward died on June 24, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas.  He was buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Dixie and Edward Battoe

Tombstone of Edward W, Battoe

LINEAGE: (Edward Walter Battoe was the son of Trevor Everett and Myrtle Eliza Meador Battoe, the grandson of John Edwin and Malinda Hawkins Battoe and the great-grandson of James J. and Charity S. Bridges Battoe.  Charity was the tenth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)