Edwin Eric Passmore

PASSMORE, Edwin Eric Edwin Eric Passmore, Colonel (USA, Ret.), the beloved husband of Joyce (Cable) Passmore passed on peacefully at his home in Storrs on Monday (July 28, 2008). Col. Passmore was born May 11, 1931 at Schofield Barracks, Oahu, HI to then Capt. George Hunter Passmore and Winifred Ida (Smith) Passmore. He earned his Eagle Scout rank while growing up in Storrs for which he was very proud and as an adult leader was awarded the Order of the Silver Beaver. He graduated from St. John's Military Academy and received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from where he graduated from in 1954, commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. He completed the Basic Infantry Officer Course, Airborne School, the Ranger Course and is a graduate of the US Army War College and Superior War College of Spain. He also commanded the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, Ft. Campbell, KY, the US Military Group, Asuncion, Paraguay, was the Defense Attaché at the American Embassy in Madrid, Spain and taught ROTC at UCONN. Col. Passmore's career spanned 30 years including three tours in Viet Nam as an Infantry officer. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Stars (one for Valor), 4 Air Medals, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Soldiers Medal of which he was most proud. He spent 16 years overseas including long tours in Germany, Belgium, Paraguay, and Spain. He received a MS degree from Shippensburg State College, in Pennsylvania. As with his grandfather, E.O. Smith, Col. Passmore was a leader in his community and a friend to all. He will be greatly missed. He was a member of the Eagleville Fire Dept. for 20 years, Lieutenant and Past Secretary of the Tri-County Fire Police, Past Master of Uriel Lodge # 24 AF & AM, Past President of the Mansfield Lions Club, and former Chairman of the Mansfield Republican Town Committee and served on the Mansfield Town Council for 11 years. He also served as a Justice of the Peace, was Sexton of the Storrs Cemetery Assoc., coordinated the Memorial Day Parade for 20 years, and taught computer internet at the Mansfield Senior Center. Edwin loved his family, the community and his gardens at "Kendall Green" his family home. In addition to his loving wife Joyce, he leaves a daughter Donna Kendall Passmore of West Virginia, two sons, Col. Edwin William Passmore, currently serving in Argentina, and Robert Hunter (Jennifer Scanlon) Passmore of Coventry and new grandson Hunter William Passmore. He also leaves a brother Hunter (Barbara) Passmore, a sister Kendall Rhee, a stepdaughter Jodie (David) Barden, and a stepson Edward (Roberta) Recor, four nephews, and former wife Donna Ramsey Passmore of Alabama. Calling hours will be at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195), Willimantic from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, August 1 and the Memorial Service will take place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 525 Hartford Tpke.. RT 44, Ashford, on Saturday August 2 at 11 a.m. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be sent to the Masonic Charity Foundation, PO Box 768, Wallingford, CT 06492; or to the Lions Eye Research Fund, c/o Mansfield Lions, PO Box 543, Mansfield CT 06250. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.