Edgar Dygert

M/Sgt Edgar Earl Dygert USAF (RET)- December 1, 1927-August 29,2014. He passed away peacefully at Tierra Pines Center, Largo Florida.

Born in Elkhart, Indiana- He was predeceased by his parents Glenn and Jeanette Dygert, his sister Mary Jane, her husband Charles Hart and his former wife, Ruth (Shaum) Bradley. He is lovingly survived by his wife Janet (Gallagher) Dygert of 47 years, and his Sister-in-law Bridget Imogene Baker. Also surviving are four children, Scott Randall & his wife Elizabeth, Lance Alan, Glenn Michael and Mary Elizabeth & husband Jeremy Shaun Thomas . Three grand children Madison Thomas, Kayce and Kayla Dygert. And a niece Susan (Hart) Clark & her husband Kenton, their children and grandchildren. The Staff of Arden Courts, Cypress Palms and Tierra Pines. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Florida Suncoast or to Alzheimer’s Association.

Ed will be remembered for his brave heart and love of family and country. In 1944 when he was a junior in high school, he begged his parents to sign for him to defend his country. He enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to the Sea Bees , 31st Naval Construction Battalion. This Unit went ashore with the Marines during many assaults to repair Airfields, and roads. They also assisted in the construction of the naval base at Saipan. After V – J Day, he was discharged from the Navy and returned to high school , graduated and earned an AA in Accounting at a business college in Elkhart. Not long afterward, the school and all records burned , so he had no record of his degree. He joined the Air Force and was assigned to Radio School at Scott AFB . He completed 10 weeks of the school when they discovered his degree and reassigned him to the Base Finance Office in Elmendorf , Alaska. His next assignment was to THE Office of Security Investigations (OSI) at Chanute AFB, Ill. He attended numerous training courses, while he was assigned to Bunker Hill AFB, Ind. and Wright Patterson, AFB. From 1960-Feb 1961, he had an unaccompanied tour to Korea. Following which he was assigned to the Office of Security Investigations District Nr3 in Philadelphia and in May 1965 to Griffith AFB in Pa. While there he became friends with Jim Brooks, who introduced him to the Masons. With his help, he went thru all the initiations and steps to become 32’nd degree, Mason. He also joined the Shiners' organization. His next assignment was to Wiesbaden, Germany, in the Summer of 1966. The day he arrived in Germany, as he was signing into the BOQ, he saw his childhood friend Bud Neff, in the lobby. Bud was an administrator at the hospital there and he invited Ed to go with him to a party at the Nurses Quarters. There, Bud introduced him to his second wife, Janet Gallagher. About six months later while they were making plans for their wedding, he was assigned to the Protection team for President Nixon , in Turkey. They had sent all of their paperwork to the Swiss government and when he returned from Turkey, they received the date and time for the wedding ceremony. It was February 14th, the day of a huge Carnival celebration in Basil. They traveled the day before and were awakened at 4 AM with early fife and drum music. The actual ceremony was held in the courthouse. A female judge appeared in her robes and announced that since Switzerland is a neutral Country. any wedding performed there was valid everywhere. She approached them and asked each individually if they wished to marry the other and announced they were married. They left the building in amazement asking each other if we were really married. By this time the parade was full blown with people wearing costumes, playing their fife and drums and throwing confetti. After enjoying this wedding reception, they drove to Engel berg a ski resort in the valley of the Swiss Alps. It was a quaint little hotel where they could sit on the balcony surrounded by snow, in their shirt sleeves and be comfortable watching the Olympic style teams compete.

A few months after they returned to their small apartment in Germany, Ed discovered he had artistic talent and he painted many oil paintings during his tour . His last assignment was to Andrew’s AFB, DC. He received an Honorable Discharge, 1 April 1970,with the rank of E-7. He and Jan moved to Bowie Maryland and Ed worked as a bookkeeper for Marty’s Electronics , in Silver Springs Maryland. Two years later they moved to Florida . He again worked as a bookkeeper days, while he attended school nights to receive a BA in Criminal Justice , with Honors, from USF . He applied to Defense investigative Services and was hired. After about a year in DC the family returned to Florida. Ed was assigned to the Titusville office where he worked and commuted to his Largo home on week-ends for about a year. Shortly after his assignment to the Clearwater office, his parents came to live with them. His father died at their home when he was 87 and his mother lived with them until she was 90 years old. She died five years later, in a Nursing Home.

He received many outstanding Awards while he was employed by OSI and DIS . In 1993, he voluntarily retired from DIS. He was recognized for his 35 years of Military and Civilian, dedicated service that made a significant contribution to the National Defense. After retirement he spent his time, completing handyman and remodeling chores on his house. When these were completed, he decided to paint a mural on the wall of his Florida room. This continued to be his pride and joy that he pointed out to anyone who entered his home. When he moved into that home, he researched and with the help of his wife and children, built a unique fireplace. He also enjoyed pointing this out to everyone.

In about 2001, he began fighting the biggest battle of his life. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Initially he was bewildered by the fact that when he went places they no longer were familiar to him. And he was devastated to learn that his artistic talent had disappeared and he no longer knew how to swim. The biggest blow however came when doctors told him it was no longer safe for him to drive a car. He finally accepted the loss of his license but continued to direct his wife on how she should drive. He recognized the fact that he could no longer handle finances or everyday life decisions. These he gave up voluntarily, but he continued to feel responsible for clearing the table, making the bed and obsessively closing all the inside doors in the house. He also put all cups and glasses in the dishwasher, if you had finished your drink or not. He went thru the stages of death and dying while he lived. The most noticeable ones to the observer were depression and anger. Amazingly enough he learned to compensate for a lot of his lost memories by making up stories that he believed to be true. He imagined trips to Egypt, seeing the pyramids and having his own band. He remembered his parents lived across the street from his grandparents on Hudson Street but believed he had inherited the two houses and he needed to take care of them. He didn’t remember his first wife but knew all of his children but sometimes mixed them up. He continued to remember his Florida Family and often amazed them by adding another word to I Love You like always or more.

He will always be remembered by his beautiful blue eyes, mischievous smile and kissable bald head. He also had an explosive temper when he perceived an injustice was happening to himself or his loved ones. His kids remember feeling his belt when they misbehaved. Beth padded her butt with a book when he told her to get the belt He laughed at this behavior and never again used corporal punishment.

He could swear like a drunken sailor and his Aides encouraged this behavior because they thought it funny. He loved dogs, and sailing his 29’ Catalina Sail boat. He also loved gadgets and learning how they worked. He was known for his professionalism, loyalty and exemplary work ethic.

He was a member of Grand Lodge Free and accepted Masons of the State of New York.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00PM, September 7, 2014 at the PALMS OF LARGO – The PLAZA-located 385 Alt Keene Road, Largo, Fl 33771. Across from Largo Community Center.