SAN?ANTONIO, Texas — SMSgt. Retired Eddie Ray Alfred Jr., age 83, of San Antonio, Texas passed away on Monday April 27, 2020.
Eddie was born May 28, 1936 in Callaghan, Virginia.
He was born to Eddie Ray Alfred, Sr. and Beatrice (Smith) Alfred, the oldest of seven children.
He graduated in June 1954 from Dunlap High School in Hematite, Virginia and joined the Air Force in October of that year.
He attended basic training at Sampson Air Force Base in New York and upon graduating he returned home and married the love of his life, Betty Wilkerson, on January 3, 1955.
During his Air Force career he was stationed in Texas (multiple times), Utah, and Arizona. He also served overseas in Germany, Vietnam (where he was awarded the Bronze Star), and Thailand. He retired from the Air Force after 30 years as a Senior Master Sergeant. He then worked for Public Storage for another 12 years until he retired permanently. He was an avid bowler and maintained a 170 average (using a 10 lb bowling ball) upon his death.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers (Ralph Alfred and Jerry Alfred) and a granddaughter (Kimberly Pundsack). He is survived by his wife; three brothers (Ronnie Alfred and wife Angela, Tommy Alfred and his wife Terry, Wendell Alfred and his partner Mike); one sister (Betty Jo and husband Wayne Wright); two daughters (Kathy and husband Craig Caudill, Darla and husband Ken Pundsack); three grandsons (Jeff and wife Carrie Pundsack, Clint and wife Cassie Caudill, Josh and wife Jennifer Caudill); one granddaughter (Jenny and husband Mark Rykowski); seven great grandchildren (Ashley Lobdell, Cody Lobdell, Jacy Pundsack, Kenzli Caudill, Aaliyah Caudill, twins Willow and Jax Caudill); and numerous nephews and nieces.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colonialuniversal.com for the Alfred family.