Edward Hartman Potter Jr.

Captain Edward Hartman Potter, Jr., US Navy (Retired) died on June 26, 2011. Ed was born November 26, 1919 in Beaufort, North Carolina. He attended the US Naval Academy and Elon College from which he graduated in May, 1941. In his senior year he was President of the Student Body and elected to Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. The day following his graduation, Ed entered the Navy’s flight training program at the Naval Air Station in Atlanta, GA. He completed flight training at NAS Pensacola in March, 1942 and was commissioned and designated a Naval Aviator. While at Elon College, he had played basketball and baseball and continued his athletic activities in the Navy. He played with the NAS Pensacola basketball team in the 1942 AAU Tournament in Denver and continued playing and coaching Navy teams for several years.

Following commissioning Ed was assigned flight instructor duties at a Primary Training squadron at Pensacola. A few months later he was ordered to the American Airlines school at Ft. Worth, TX and then to Penn Central Airlines in Washington D.C. Following this training, Ed was assigned flight instructor duties in the operational training squadron at NAS Sanford, FL. It was during his tour in Sanford that Ed met his future bride, Joan Azzarello. They were married on February 18, 1944 and began their journey in Lake City, FL, where his squadron had been transferred. Four months later, Ed received orders to a West Coast squadron and Joan, a four month bride and three months pregnant went home to live with her father.

Ed flew ASW patrols from Guam and Tinian until transferred to a staff on Guam. There he headed the Flag Aviation Unit and was able to visit most of the islands in the Western Pacific, including Japan, China and the Philippines after World War II.

Orders to the Navy Graduate School at Annapolis, MD followed for a one year course in meteorology. While in Annapolis he resumed married life with Joan and new daughter, Robin who was born December 24, 1944. Next came orders to Fleet Weather Central in Shanghai, China where Ed and his new family spent many interesting months during a hectic time for China. Due to the uncertain military situation all Navy dependents were sent back to the States in November, 1948 and military personnel remained there until May, 1949, at which time they, too, were evacuated. General Line School at Newport, RI followed Shanghai and from there it was on to Whidbey Island, WA as staff meteorologist. One year at Whidbey completed Ed’s obligated meteorology duties and he was then assigned to VC-35 at Coronado, CA for his first aircraft carrier flying. He was Officer-in¬¬-Command of a four plane detachment aboard the USS Essex during the Korean War, flying night attack strikes against enemy trains and truck targets. Ed was awarded three Air Medals and one commendation medal with combat V for his valiant efforts. His detachment was the first on board unit in the Pacific Fleet qualified to deliver a nuclear weapon.

Two weeks following Ed’s return from Korea, he and Joan welcomed their second daughter, Roxanne. Then they were off to NAS Jacksonville, FL for his first real shore duty, where an assignment as Assistant Operations Officer proved very interesting. It was here that Ed and Joan bought their first home and were able to live in it during shore duty and sea duty. While Commanding Officer of VA-175, the squadron was deployed several times, including an eight month Mediterranean tour. Upon its return from the Mediterranean VA-175 was decommissioned and Ed was assigned to the USS Tarawa as Operations Officer, based at Quonset Pt., RI. This duty consisted of several short deployments and one long South Atlantic/South American tour. After fifteen months in Tarawa Ed was ordered to the staff of Commander, NAS Pensacola. One month after arriving in Pensacola, Joan and Ed were thrilled with the birth of their son, Edward, who was born on base at the Naval Hospital. They spent the next three years living comfortably in Navy quarters and enjoying family life in

Pensacola.

Next, it was back up north to the Aviation Supply Office in Philadelphia, PA, as Director of the Technical Division. This duty proved educational and interesting for Ed as it involved the purchasing of spare parts for all Navy and Marine aircraft, with a ½ billion dollar annual budget, quite considerable in those days. Three years later Ed received orders to the Naval War College at Newport, RI. After a year at the Naval War College, he was ordered to the NROTC Unit at Rice University, as Commanding Officer/Professor of Naval Science. This was another very interesting duty, during which he and Joan bought their second home and again enjoyed a normal family life. Ed retired from the Navy on July 1, 1972, after 31 years of active duty. Following his military retirement, Ed was employed by Rice University until January 1, 1984, at which time he took final retirement.

Ed enjoyed academic life, and in addition to Navy schools, he enrolled in after-hours courses at Pensacola Junior College, Temple and Villanova Universities, University of Houston and Houston Community College. He received a Master’s Degree from George Washington University while attending the Naval War College.

After his basketball and baseball days were over, Ed embraced the game of tennis whole heartedly until his knees gave out. He became addicted to the sport, playing several times a week eventually becoming Texas Sr. Olympic Doubles Champion at the age of 80. He was a volunteer for the local Red Cross driving seniors to and from their physician’s appointments. He was a member of the Petroleum Club, the Rice Faculty Club, local and national Navy League and the Retired Officers Association, and a former member of the Kiwanis.

Since World War II Ed’s family was able to follow him to many of his assignments and Joan has made a home for him and the children whenever he was stateside. His three children attended many different schools and lived in most areas of our country. Their lives have provided them opportunities to see and do things that would not have been possible otherwise. Ed tried to instill in them a love of country, a sense of honor and integrity and respect for their fellow man. They have made him proud as they have grown from childhood into great adults and parents themselves.

Ed is survived by Joan, his adored wife of 67 years; his daughters Robin and husband Timothy Kennedy of Tampa, FL, Roxanne and husband Bruce Hennemuth of Westport, CT, son Edward and wife Sharon of Houston, TX; eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A private internment will take place at Houston National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at Memorial Drive Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 30th or All are welcome and invited to a visitation with the family immediately following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to do so may make contributions to the American Cancer Society, 6310 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77005, also to Homes for our Troops, 6 Main Street, Taunton, MA. 02780 or phone (866) 787-6677, www.homesforourtroops.org.