Edward G. Bassett

Feb. 21, 1924 – Aug. 17, 2018

Ed passed away peacefully in Arlington, VA at age 94. His loving nature, wry humor, endless courage, and enthusiasm for the simple joys of life were inspirations to all of us who knew him and enjoyed his company. As a member of “the greatest generation,” Ed was rightly proud of his career as an Army non-commissioned officer and for his service as a combat infantryman in Europe in WW II. Ed is survived by his loving wife, Margaret Wisdom, and stepchildren Frank Kendall, Susan Voinche, Ron Kendall, Janet White, Alan Wisdom, and David Wisdom and their spouses as well as by many adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enriched us all. The funeral service for Ed will be held at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 3115 P St. NW, Washington, DC 20007 at 10 a.m. on Sept. 15, 2018 and followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to The Salvation Army or the Capital Area Food Bank.

Ed was born in Fall River, MA in 1924. In 1943, after working on Narragansett Bay as a young man he entered the Army and became an infantryman. He participated in the invasion of Southern France in 1944 and fought across southern Europe and into Germany until the German surrender. As the smallest man in his squad he got to carry the heaviest weapon in the squad, a Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR. As with everything else Ed encountered in his life, he took this in stride and with good humor. Like most veterans from WW II, Ed was reticent to talk about his experiences. He did, however, take to military life, and following the war he stayed in the Army. He moved into the Army’s combat engineers, where he worked his way up through the non-commissioned officer ranks until his retirement after he had reached the 20 year mark. He was justifiably proud of his service and always grateful for the range of opportunities the Army provided him over his career.

In civilian life, Ed was employed for many years as a supervisor for Hallmark Cards near Springfield, MA. A confirmed bachelor well into middle age, Ed met the first love of his life, Alma Kendall, through one of his passions, dancing. Alma and Ed had planned a wedding and invited family members, but in typical fashion for both of them, they decided to elope and skip all the “fuss.” Maybe they just thought that was more romantic, something that would have appealed to both of them. Ed retired shortly after his marriage to Alma, and the couple enjoyed nearly two decades of happiness together. Ed loved having a family for the first time in his adult life. That family included not just Alma, but her four children by her first husband, Frank, Susan, Ronald, and Janet, and their children. Ed was a loving and devoted stepparent and grandfather who doted on his extended family, which grew to include seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Sadly, Ed lost Alma to lung cancer in 1999. After the loss of Alma, Ed moved first to Akron, OH to be near family there, and then in 2004 to the Jefferson Retirement Community in Arlington, VA.

It was at the Jefferson that Ed met the second love of his life, Margaret Wisdom. There was no elopement this time; they had a small ceremony with close friends and family at the Jefferson. Ed and Margaret enjoyed over a decade together, sharing experiences with each other, friends and family, which for Ed now included Margaret’s children and their children. The once confirmed bachelor found deep enjoyment and enjoyed nothing more than being with those he loved. As the birthdays and Christmases rolled by over the years there was one thing everyone could be sure of, what Ed would say if you asked him what he wanted for a gift. It was always “For everyone to be happy.”

Ed had more than his share of hardship. He grew up during the Depression and served in combat in WW II. He worked hard all his life and overcame one obstacle or loss after another. He never lost sight of the joys that life brought him, especially his partnerships with Alma and Margaret and the families he became such a beloved part of. He also loved good food (mussels were a favorite), good wine (red), a good book (history and nautical adventure), photography (especially of nature), and his church (Georgetown Presbyterian). While he was able to do so, well into his 80s, Ed loved being at sea on his stepson’s sail boat. His last wish was to be buried at sea. Those who loved him will always remember the warmth, humor, faith, and character with which Ed enriched the lives of everyone around him.