Edward Ples Dunfield (Retired) LTC US Army

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jane and daughter Marijke Gaidry (Doug), son Richard Dunfield (Zina), two granddaughters, Ashleigh Elliott and Krystal Elliot, as well as two grandsons, Hunter Dunfield (Brailey) and Henderson Clepper, and great grandchildren Vincent Perez, George Woodman III and Alayna Clepper and a great granddaughter due in September 2022.

Eds father died when he was 18 months old. His mother married his first stepfather who worked across the west states sinking mine shafts. Ed spent many years attending many different schools until his final high school years in Pilcher, Oklahoma. He was drafted into the Army after high school with basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was selected for OCS, becoming a brand new 2nd Lt on his way to Fort Holabird, Maryland for schooling in his chosen field, intelligence. His first assignment was Little Rock, Arkansas which was during the initial integration of Central High School in Little Rock.

In Little Rock, he met his wife Jane when they moved into the same boarding house on Spring Street and where they married 9 months later in the Baring Cross Baptist Church in North Little Rock, March 17th, 1957.

After Little Rock, Ed and Jane spent 5 years at his next assignment - Kaiserslautern, Germany with 1 year at the language school, then back to Ft. Holabird for more training. Ed spent one year in South Korea. From Korea he was at the Pentagon - Next was Viet Nam. His Army career ended at Fort Sam, San Antonio as CO of the intelligence office.

During his Army career, Ed took college courses here and there, earning him a bachelor from the University of Maryland and a MBA from the University of Utah.

Upon retirement Ed and Jane built a house and Ed attempted to find a civilian job with many rejecting him for "Having no experience". He took an assistant bookkeeper job for $ 1.50 an hour at Roto Flex Oven Co. (Mfg of commercial pizza ovens). Approximately ten years later upon retirement of the owner, Ed bought the company and worked there for 35 years with all three of his children off and on leaving only when Alzheimers took its toll.

Ed was a happy, caring man who loved his jobs (the Army & Roto Flex Oven Co.), but mostly his family, enjoying being a father, grandfather & great grandfather. He loved to travel and enjoyed his friends, (though he was a lousy bridge player!) He loved his church - Colonial Hills United Methodist (A member since Spring 1971) and was strong in his faith of God. If asked how he was, he always replied "Blessed".

Interment will be at Fort Sam Cemetery, 9:30am, Wednesday, July 27th with a celebration of life at church afterwards at 11:30.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Eds name to Colonial Hills United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, Meals on Wheels or charity of your choice.