Ed Isherwood

In late August 2009 Ed was diagnosed with melanoma cancer of the brain, lungs, liver, and pancreas just in time for my 78th birthday, August 29, 1931. The radiation treatments, 3 weeks, and chemotherapy medicine did not make me ill. He had the best nurse in the world, my wife Marge who is an angel.

Ed was born in Sunnyside, WA, on August 29, 1931 to parents Irene and Lloyd Isherwood. He had two older siblings, Art about 10 years older, and a sister Margaret. Sis passed away at an early age with type 1 diabetes, leaving behind a husband, Marvin Shaeffer, and two sons, Danny and James. The family moved to Wapato when he was 6 years old and he graduated from Wapato High School in1949.

Margaret (Marge) Pierson and Ed were married in Yakima on Dec. 21, 1956, the happiest day of my life, after we had both graduated from Yakima Valley Community College and I had moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. Ed soon went to work for the city of Seattle Engineering Department. Ed started in the traffic signal design and operation division. After a couple of years in that position he was promoted to senior engineer in charge of the division. He passed the Washington State Professional Engineer License examination in 1968. Ed retired from the City of Seattle in 1989 thinking he would have a short life span due to the heart problems in his family. After retiring he worked for three and a half years for a Transportation Consulting Co. waiting for Marge to retire.

Marge, my angel, gave me three handsome sons, Ryan, Scott and David who all graduated from the University of Washington with Engineering Degrees. We are very proud of our sons and they have provided us with 4 step grandchildren.

Ed served 4 years in the US Navy from Feb.1951 to Feb.1955. He spent several months on a destroyer operating with Task Force 77 off the Korean coast. The destroyer that he was on achieved the distinct honor of being the first Navy ship to sink a shore battery. In Wanson Harbor in North Korea the North Koreans dug tunnels into the cliffs around the harbor and slid their heavy armament to the entrance to fire at ships entering the harbor. He also had the exciting adventure of spending seven months on board the destroyer operating around Bikini in the Marshall Islands. Our ship was there to be on hand for the first Hydrogen Bomb test. The first explosion was so great that it frightened the scientist performing the testing.

Since 1992 Marge and Ed have been snowbirds. They owned a condo in a country club in Palm Desert, CA. and golf has been our passion ever since. We spend six months in Yakima and six months in Palm Desert each year.

Ed is survived by his loving wife, Marge; son Ryan and wife Carmen and her daughter, Anastasia of Chicago, IL; son Scott with children Gabrielle, Analiesse, and Ian, and wife Teddi with her children Vanessa, Taylor and Harmony of Moses Lake, WA; son David and wife Mirgul and daughter Layla of Hercules, CA.; nephews Danny and Jim Shaeffer; sister-in-law Ruth Isherwood and several cousins.

Marge and I feel so fortunate and thank God for have given us such a wonderful family and life together. God has decided to set a new course for our lives. Where he leads I will follow. Goodbye to all my loving family and to all my wonderful friends. I thank you all for your prayers and support ED. . .

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 25, 2010 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6015 Summitivew Ave. Yakima.

Arrangements under the direction of Keith & Keith Funeral Home, Yakima, WA.