Edward Lee Irwin

Edward Lee Irwin was born to David and Melba Irwin on January 19, 1952 in DeSoto, Missouri. Baptized soon after, he grew up with a solid Lutheran education received in his parish school and then at St. Paul’s Lutheran High School, a boarding school for boys operated by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. After his second year of college, also at St. Paul’s, he returned home, soon to join the US Navy as a part of the nuclear program. He volunteered for the submarine service and was assigned to the USS Parche, one of the most decorated ship in US Naval history. (Google it and see what adventures Ed had!) He later served on the USS Cavalla, a total of eleven years in the Navy, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer and serving as “Chief of the Boat.”. During a 1982 cruise to the Philippines, he was introduced to a lovely young lady, Josefina Santos. Love blossomed, so she moved to America and they were married on July 16, 1985. Josie and Ed were blessed with three sons: Eric, John and Anthony. Eric and Lysandra in turn blessed them with 5 grandchildren: Ella, Cora, Lennon, Norah and Forrest. Over the 35 years of marriage they lived in Ohio, Baltimore, Illinois, Kentucky and Pennsylvania before settling in Virginia Beach. After working for years in nuclear power plants, Ed’s final calling was to work in the ship repair and maintenance field, writing manuals. It is for his typing skills that he thanked his favorite class at St. Paul. Ed and Josie have been members of Prince of Peace for years. At one time Ed considered the pastoral ministry, but the Lord had other plans! He was blessed to be a part of a large family: brothers Dave, Dennis, Harry, Charlie (+), and Mike, and one sister, Barb.