Paul Erik Edlund

EDLUND, Paul Erik 89, passed away peacefully on August 11th, 2011, in Belmont, Massachusetts. He was born May 11th, 1922 in Fayetteville, N.Y to Birger and Pearl Edlund and was raised in upstate New York. Paul enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1944. He served as a bombardier on a B-24G during WWII until he was shot during a mission, lost his left arm and was subsequently released from service, earning a Purple Heart. Following his military service, he enrolled at Yale University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in History. While attending Yale, he met Mary Jane Wells on a blind date. They were married one year later, in 1948, a marriage that would last for 62 years and produce 4 children. Paul began work as a history teacher at a private boys' school, but then decided to pursue further education. While obtaining his Master's in American History from the University of Virginia, Paul took a job at the school library. There he found people who shared his interests which propelled him towards his next adventure, the University of Michigan, for a degree in Library Science. In 1958, Paul and Mary Jane and their growing family settled down in Garrett Park, Maryland. Paul began work at the Library of Congress, a career which he enjoyed for 27 years. Paul became an active member in the community of Garrett Park, serving on the town council for 6 years and as mayor for 6 more. He was an avid historian and writer and published his first book, a history of the town of Garrett Park, in 1988. His second book Youth, the First Victim of War followed in 2004, an historical account of his air crew in WWII. He planned but never finished a third book, about his father's emigration from Sweden in the early 1900's. Paul's other interests included golf, landscaping and art, and he dabbled in both water colors and wood block prints. Paul led a full life and was well known and respected at work and in his community not only for his many contributions, but also for his positive outlook and sense of humor. When Paul and Mary Jane's health declined they moved to Cape Cod and then on to Belmont, MA, where they spent their final years. Paul was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Mary Jane, and his brother Stuart. He is survived by his sister Justine Meyers, son Paul Wells Edlund and his wife Michele, daughters Karen Edlund and her husband Phil, Christa Edlund and her husband Joel, and Leslie Edlund and her husband Steven, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Services will be held at the Garrett Park, Maryland Town Hall at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to the Veterans History Project, a project of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/vets/# On line guest book at www.brownandhickey.com