Edward "Ed" Kostyniak

DENISON - Edward "Ed" Kostyniak, 86, passed away at his home on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 in Denison.
Funeral services with Rosary will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, 2009 at Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 W. Woodard St., Denison, with Fr. Antonio Aureus from St. Mary's Catholic Church. Interment with military honors will be follow at Fairview Cemetery, Denison.
Visitation will be held on Monday, Dec. 28, 2009 one hour prior to the funeral service. The funeral home will be open from 1 -5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009.
Ed was born on Oct. 3, 1923 in Chicago, the son of Anton and Stefania Kostyniak, immigrants from Russia and Poland. He married Zoe L. Long on Dec. 27, 1973 in Dallas,. Ed graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. in 1949. He received a master's degree in nuclear engineering from N.C. State University in 1954.
He was a navigator in B-17's in World War II. He was an instructor pilot at Perrin AFB from 1950-1952. He was assigned to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission where he was the director of Nuclear Safety in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1956-1960. Ed was assigned to the AF Office at General Dynamics-Fort Worth where he was the director of engineering. He retired in February 1967 with the rank of Major.
Ed then worked as the sub-plant manager at Stromberg-Carlson Corp. in Ardmore, Okla., from 1967-1970. He became an instructor at Grayson County College, teaching electronics, math, chemistry, physics and computer science. He retired in 1984.
Ed was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sherman, the Knights of Columbus, Phi Delta Kappa, Kiwanis Club, North Texas West Point Society and the Polish National Alliance.
He is survived by his son, Larry Kostyniak and wife Gretchen of Arlington; daughter, Deena White of Denison; stepson, Marty Long of Denison; grandsons, Brian and wife Chelsea and Michael Kostyniak and fiancé Candice Orth of Arlington; granddaughter, Mickey White of Denison; step-grandson, Ethan Long; sister, Alice Sobieski and husband Henry of Chicago; numerous nieces and nephews in Chicago.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Zoe, parents, brother, Victor and stepson, Tracy Long.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ed's name may be made to St. Mary's Building Fund.
A special thank you to Home Hospice and to Ed's care giver and friend Elaine Reynolds.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Bratcher Funeral Home. For further information, please call the funeral home at (903) 465-2323, or for an online obituary, directions or to leave a condolence, please go to www.bratcherfuneralhome.com.