Edward K. Louden – Colonel, United States Air Force

From a contemporary news report:

Colonel Edward K. Louden, of Anderson, South Carolina, died Sunday, May 11, 1997, in the Anderson Area Medical Center. He was born Feb. 7, 1918, in Dunbar, a son of Harry D. and Mabel Kimball Louden. He was married in December 1941, in Trauger to Rebecca Truxal who survives him. He graduated from Greensburg High School in 1936, and from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina in 1940, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration.

Colonel Louden entered the service in January 1941 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps. He served on Saipan and in the Philippines during World War II. Following World War II, he transferred to the U.S. Air Force where he held high administrative positions. Included among his  assignments were 8 1/2 years duty at the Pentagon, Director of Plans for the Pacific Division of the Military Air Transport Service during the Korean War, Base Commander of Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., and Director of Airman Personnel for the Tactical Air Command.

He retired as a colonel in 1963 to join Scholastic Magazines Inc. in New York City as manager of book distribution. In 1968, he moved to Jefferson City, Mo., to organize and manage Scholastic's Midwestern Distribution Center, which became the Scholastic National Distribution Center in 1983. He retired at the end of 1984 as Vice President of Scholastic Inc. While in Jefferson City he was active in civic and community activities. A former director and vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, he also served as co-chairman for the fund drive which built the Sheltered Workshop for the city. He was a former member and president of the St. Mary's Health Center Advisory Board.

Colonel Louden served as a commissioner on the Jefferson City Housing Authority for over seven years.  He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Associated Industries of Missouri until his retirement. He was a former member and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in that city. He is survived by two daughters; a sister, Mrs. Ralph J. Kelley of Greensburg; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Burial with full military honors will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Read our general and most popular articles

Leave a Comment

error: