Edwin Louis Haynes

Edwin Louis Haynes

Edwin Louis Haynes, age 86, died peacefully surrounded by his family at Los Robles Hospital on Father's Day. His health had been suffering for many years. Even so, he remained optimistic, loving, and grateful until his final morning. He always said the best decision he ever made was to marry a nurse.

Eddie, as his parent's called him, was born on November 4, 1934 in Grand Junction, Colorado to Velva Mae and Leone Haynes. He was the youngest of six boys. Later, a sister would join them. His family moved many times during his childhood, which made him long for a nice home of his own someday. He graduated from high school in 1953.

Ed met the love of his life, Marylou, at church in 1956. While he was drafted into the army he began corresponding with Marylou. After his military service was finished, they began dating in earnest. They were married on April 3, 1960.

Ed decided to return to college and earned a BS in Industrial Technology and Management with a minor in electronics from Long Beach State in 1966. He began working for The General Telephone Company in the Transmission Department, which specialized in planning microwave, paging, mobile radio, fiber optics, and satellite communications. While there he worked on many interesting projects including, establishing the first Digital Microwave System on the West Coast, supervising the installation of a venue site for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and establishing a microwave link for President Reagan's Western White House near Santa Barbara. He retired from GTE when the company relocated to Texas in the late 1980's. Ed was hired next by Kaiser Engineering and took a position in Taipei, Taiwan, helping to design the communication system for the Taipei subway. After 3 years, he returned home and began work on the communication system for the Los Angeles subway. When that project was completed, he was hired by DMJM-Harris and worked on the communication system for the Alameda Corridor railway which travels from the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach to cities throughout the country. He retired at age 68 on January 1, 2003.

Ed and Marylou moved to Newbury Park, California in 1966 when they bought their first small home. In 1973, they purchased a much larger home that he loved and thus his childhood dream was fulfilled. His two children, David, who arrived in 1964 and Valerie, who arrived in 1970 loved having their own rooms. They both have wonderful memories of their dad playing with them and taking them on fun family vacations. Ed was able to enjoy his home until his final stay in the hospital.

Ed's hobbies included reading, jogging, backpacking, traveling, sports (especially gymnastics), computers, photography, videography, and playing board games with his twin grandsons. Even when he became very weak, he could still win a game of Sorry or Checkers.

Ed believed the purpose of life was to be happy and to enjoy the ride. He believed he had achieved this. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 61 years, Marylou, his son David, his daughter-in-law Sandra, his grandsons Chris and Tim, his daughter Valerie DiMilia and her husband Edward DiMilia along with all of his friends, extended family, and church family.