Edward Thomas Walford

Edward Thomas Walford, 96, passed peacefully at his Colorado Springs home Sept. 27, 2021, honorably completing his mission as a WWII navigator, Air Force officer, inspiring chemistry teacher, avid outdoorsman, and cherished husband, father, and grandfather.

Ed was born Oct. 17, 1924 to Edward and Rosina Walford in Indianapolis, Indiana. After graduating from Arsenal Technical High School, Ed enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as a B-24 navigator during WWII. At 18, he had never before flown in an airplane or been out of his home state. Assigned to the 380th Bomb Group of the 5th Air Force, he flew 40 combat missions over the Pacific out of Darwin, Australia and Mindora Island, Philippines, safely guiding his crew home by the stars with a sextant.

After WWII, Ed earned a chemical engineering degree at Purdue University in Indiana, where he met Barbara Jean Hall, his future bride. They married in Washington, D.C., Jan. 31, 1948. After rejoining the U.S. Air Force, Ed and Barbara traveled from Baltimore to assignments in New Mexico, England, Michigan, Colorado, and Virginia. Each of their six children have different birth places!

At heart, Ed was a teacher. From 1959 to 1966, he served as a chemistry professor at the new U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Following a final assignment in the D.C. area, Lt. Col. Walford retired in 1968 and made Colorado Springs the family’s permanent home. Mr. Walford continued as an educator, teaching chemistry at Cheyenne Mountain High School from 1968 to 1988. While there, Ed co-authored a best-selling chemistry textbook.

Ed loved the mountains; looking at them, climbing them, and skiing them, seeing them as “God’s country.” He always encouraged his children on hikes and climbs with the promise of a Dairy Queen at the top. During his years with the Colorado Mountain Club, Ed summited 33 of the state’s 14ers. He was a member of the Silver Streaks Ski Club and a dedicated supporter of VIBeS, the Visually Impaired and Blind Skiers of Colorado Springs. He skied with multiple generations of Walfords for more than 50 years, not stopping until age 91!

Ed was pre-deceased by his wife, Barbara, who passed on Oct. 21, 2017, brothers Robert and John, parents and step-parents, and grandson John Schutte. He is survived by six children, Edward “Ted” Jr., Victoria (Gary Hulsey), David, Marcia (Barry Wick), Gillian (Bill Kuestner), and Jennifer; grandchildren Uttara and Panchali, Joseph Matusiak, Gabriel and Benjamin, Julianna Bustamante, and Madeline Barber; great-grandchildren Mateo, Maya, Luca, Quinton, and Ciara; daughters-in-love Kulapriya Walford and Nancy Pettit; and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 11 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2650 Parish View, Colorado Springs. A lunch reception will follow (RSVP to [email protected]).

Edward Walford will be honored with a military burial on the beautiful USAFA grounds at the base of the Rocky Mountains which he loved, rejoining his wife of nearly 70 years. Donations in memory of Mr. Walford may be made to: The Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation.