Edward Richard Fitzgerald

Obituary Edward Richard Fitzgerald Edward Richard Fitzgerald, beloved spouse, father, and friend, died at Harborview Medical Center December 5, 2009 from complications resulting from a fall. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, September 17, 1923, the youngest of eight children. After graduating from St. Thomas Military Academy in St. Paul, he served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II, earning the Bronze Star for bravery as a radio operator for Company E, 335th Infantry regiment 84th Infantry Division. After the war, he returned to St. Paul, where he worked for Dun & Bradstreet when he met and married Delores Margaret Munn, Crookston, Minnesota, devoted wife of 60 years. He was returned to military duty during the Korean War, serving in an engineering battalion training engineers. In 1955, he was hired by Rilco Laminated Products, which became part of the Weyerhaeuser Company. For the next 33 years, he sold laminated wood products throughout much of the country. He was particularly proud of his encouragement of the eventual design for the roof of the Tacoma Dome, for which he is commemorated on a plaque in the building. A resident of Tacoma Washington since 1974, he is survived by two sisters, all nine of his children, six grandchildren and one great-grandson. A memorial service will be held at Gaffney Funeral Home, 1002 S. Yakima, Tacoma, on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 1:00 pm. Please leave online condolences at www.GaffneyCares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.