William Edmonston

William Carbery Edmonston, 81, died June 2, 2013. Mr. Edmonston lived in Edgewater for 35 years before moving to Centreville in 2005. Reared in Arlington Virginia, Mr. Edmonston, "Bill," led a diverse and interesting life. He was in the Army from 1952 to 1954, serving in the Signal Corps as a radio operator during the Korean War. After the war, Mr. Edmonston began his working career with PEPCO, where he met his future wife, Joyce. He then began a career working in the computer and aerospace industry, working on some of the earliest satellites, all the way through the space shuttle program. He was the engineer chosen to initiate the launch sequence of the very first satellite launched at Goddard, and was the lead engineer for the Explorer 8, 12 and 15 satellites along with the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO). While lead engineer of the OGO, he wrote the first computer operating system used to automate control of space flight. From this experience, he moved to the computer industry, working on flight test systems and range telemetry. The systems he designed were adopted by every test range used by the military and NASA. He traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and the world working at these ranges, and he held both 'top secret' and 'Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearances. Mr. Edmonston was also engaged in many civic organizations. He was a past-president of the South River Park Community Association and the South River Federation. He was a member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Appeals for 12 years, and the county Storm Water Management Committee. He was a founding member of the Anne Arundel Waterway Restoration Alliance. He was also a member of the Symphony Village home owner's association board of directors. Bill enjoyed many pastime, as he was an accomplished guitar, banjo and organ player. He was an avid boater, and was a founding member of the Classic Yacht Club of America. He also enjoyed model railroading, and most recently belonged to the Queen Anne's County model railroading club. Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joyce; and their three children, Melissa, Bery and his wife, Clare, and Chris and his wife, Stephanie. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, his sister Joan, and his brothers George (Dick), Ray and John. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 7, at the Symphony Village community center located at 100 Symphony Way, Centreville MD 21617. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Bill Edmonston to Hospice of Queen Anne's, Inc., 255 Comet Dr., Centreville, MD 21617 or the Queen Anne's Railroad Society, P.O. Box 421, Centreville, MD 21617.