Edward J. Gilroy

1931 - 2017

Edward Gilroy, 86, recently of Colorado Springs and formerly of Lakewood, Colorado, passed away peacefully on December 27, 2017. Edward was born to Edward and Myrtle Gilroy on April 2, 1931, in Kooskia, Idaho. After 2 years of college, Edward became a Naval aviator. He received flight training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida and additional flight training in Hutchinson, Kansas where he met Janice (Woodson). The two married in 1954. The couple began their marriage of 63 years in Hawaii where Edward was stationed at Barbers Point. After 4 years in the Navy, he was hired by United Airlines where he launched his 35-year career as a commercial airline pilot. While many knew him as an officer and a gentleman, Edward was, above all, a loving and devoted husband and father. He is survived by his wife Janice, his daughter Gayle Gilroy (David Koukol), his daughter Jennifer Gilroy, and three grandchildren Molly Koukol Hui, Benjamin Koukol, and Kaitlin Mueller-Elea as well as many friends including his treasured VP-28 Navy patrol squadron buddies. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sisters Mae Dvorak and Madge Matousek. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, the Foothills Animal Shelter, or the National Naval Aviation Museum. Having slipped the surly bonds of earth, Edward now with silent, lifting mind may trod, and put out his hand to touch the face of God.