Richard L. Edinger, 100, passed away on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, Calif., from coronary atherosclerosis.
He was born in Woodstock on Nov. 15, 1921, to Lester and Marian Marble Edinger. As Richard approached his 100thyear, he fondly reminisced of living in the sheriff’s residence, next to the Courthouse in Woodstock. This was during his dad’s tenure as county sheriff for 16 years from 1926 to 1942.
Richard graduated from Duke University in 1943 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps soon after graduation. After basic training in Kansas, Texas, and Florida, he was sent to Tienian Island, from where the Enola Gay flew to bomb Hiroshima.
After being discharged from the military service, he met Merlyn Foss in Woodstock. They were married June 6, 1947. They moved to California, where Richard became a psychiatric technician at the VA Hospital in Menlo Park for the next 40 years.
Despite COVID-19, Richard managed to celebrate his 100th birthday even though it was with a limited number of friends and family. There was much laughter, as Richard loved to tell stories about his long, happy life, and the guests added their memories to his.
Surviving Richard is is loving wife, Merlyn; Richard’s brother, Les; Les’s wife, Liz; along with two nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester (Doc) Edinger and Marian Marble Edinger; his older sister, Mary K. Wallace; his older brother, Sidney; and Sid’s daughter, Amy (Rodney) Edinger.
Often Richard and Merlyn have been told their life together would make a great story.
A memorials service will be held after COVID becomes less hazardous.