Edward Dow Gomes

Life of
Edward Dow Gomes

Edward Dow Gomes of Arcadia CA passed away December 11, 2013 at age 93 after an extended illness. Born January 7, 1920 in Phoenix AZ, to Maude May Gomes and Lloyd Augustus Gomes, he spent his growing years in Glendale CA, graduating from Glendale Hoover High School in 1938.

He worked and attended community college until the attack on Pearl Harbor, after which he enlisted in the Navy. He was sent to Honolulu and assigned to the battleship West Virginia, which had been sunk during the Japanese bombing December 7, 1941. Salvage crews were able to raise and repair it for towing to Bremerton, WA where Ed spent a year while the "WeeVee" was redesigned and rebuilt.

Ed was on board the ship during its lead involvement in the famous six sea battles off the Philippines, the shelling of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the direct hit from a Kamikaze plane off Okinawa, and the honor of anchoring alongside the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Peace Treaty. For such distinguished service, the crew of the West Virginia was awarded numerous commendations.

Ed married Dorothy Jane Anderson of Fargo, ND, in Las Vegas NV, August 1, 1954. Jane had moved to southern California and had established a successful hair salon business which she continued after her marriage. Ed was employed by Allstate Insurance in 1948 and remained with that company until retirement. Upon the occasion of his 35th anniversary with Allstate, he was celebrated for his distinguished service as a district underwriter, multi-line trainer, and co-creator of the Pasadena Brush Fire program for residences in the foothill areas.

Edward and Jane purchased a home in Arcadia in 1957 where they resided for 57 years, enjoying Arcadia, the surrounding communities, and weekend breakfasts at Mimi's Café. One of their prized possessions was a red Cadillac for their travels to North Dakota, Arizona, and Louisiana.

Edward was predeceased by his father Lloyd in 1977 and his mother Maude in 1985. He is survived by Jane, his wife of 59 years, and first cousins Dianne Nicholson of Seal Beach and Don Glines of Sacramento. Services and interment are being held at Forest Lawn Covina Hills, 11:30 AM, Saturday, February 8, 2014, followed by luncheon at the Radisson Hotel, Covina Hills. Friends of Edward Gomes are welcome at both remembrances.