Edward Fernando Higgins

On August 23, 2012 Edward Fernando Higgins went "not gentle into the good night" at the age of 90. He was born December 4, 1921 to William Erastus Higgins and Ethel Francis Tyler on Horse Island, Idaho (now at the bottom of American Falls Reservoir), and fought valiantly throughout his life. He was raised in hard times. As a young boy he took his .22 and a single cartridge into the sage brush; if he found a rabbit his family had meat, if not they went without.
When the war came he was one of the first to volunteer serving in Europe. While stationed in England he met his beloved Phyllis M Sinclair. They married at St. John the Baptist Church in Tilbury, Essex, England on July 8, 1944. His planes flew many missions, including D-day and at the end of the war he transported military leaders to inspect the Nazi concentration camps. When the war ended he returned to Idaho to make a home for his bride, who joined him as soon as the Ward Brides Act permitted.
He worked as a sausage maker in Pocatello and Blackfoot, Idaho, and Pasco, Washington. Later both he and Phyl worked for Lamb-Weston in American Falls, Idaho. Phyl passed away August 30, 1988.
He is survived by their three children, Steve Higgins, Idaho; Sharon (Charles) Van Hook, Pocatello, Idaho, and Shelley (Wesley) Argyle, West Bountiful, Utah; 2 grandchildren, Aaron (Karen) Eisenbarth, West Bountiful, Utah and Robert Argyle, West Bountiful, Utah; 2 great-grandchildren, Ashley and Ethan Eisenbarth. He was preceded in death by his parents and all his brothers and sisters.
He endured life's afflictions bravely including his loneliness and his blindness, and lived his life independently and on his own terms for all 90 years. We express appreciation to "his girls" from Tender Care. He "raged on against the dying light" until the end.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at the Mtn. View Cemetery, Pocatello, Idaho. A viewing will be held Tuesday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com.