Edward Stanley Bayer

Edward S. Bayer, 81, of Simi Valley, California, passed away on July 11, 2025, surrounded by his loving wife of 63 years, Esther Patricia Bayer, and their children: Eddie Bayer, Linda Bayer, Cathy Bayer-Vild, Sandra O'Conner, Elaine Pike, Robert Bayer, and Darlene Bayer Knudsen. He was preceded by his infant son, Richard Bayer, who passed in 1966.
Edward was born on January 2, 1944, in Long Beach, during the middle of World War II. He was the eldest son of his beloved mother, Mary Elaine Bayer and Edward J. Bayer, a sharp shooting Marine who had completed his tour as MP aboard the USS California one month before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Edward was a natural leader and admired by his four sisters and four brothers. His hard working, sharp, head strong approach to life was respected by all who encountered him. Edward's life was full of family and heartfelt relationships with his children. On July 4th, 1962 at "The Pike" in Long Beach, he swept Pat off of her feet and they began their life together. With Pat's strength, resilience, faith, and beauty they built a family full of love, laughter, and loud personalities in a sanctuary known to all as the "Bayer House".
In 1968, Edward began his career at Lockheed in Burbank, then Hughes Aircraft, entering into the world of Aerospace and Naval Radar Technology as a Senior Technician. By 1983, he advanced to Engineer at Hughes which became Raytheon, where he wrote Navy test procedures to train sailors on radar systems and missile launching in Point Magu. He later worked at Edwards Air Force Base in China Lake doing live missions and tracked Tomahawk missiles for testing. He eventually retired from MOAG Spacecraft Operations, where he contributed to Satellite Technology, Telemetry, Range Control Launching, and flight missions. He was truly a genius in his field and always reminded us that "Loose lips sink ships".
Throughout the years, he held the highest title of Chess Master and was acknowledged in the Simi Valley newspaper as "Simi Valley's Own Bobby Fischer." He would always humbly say he ranked as "Expert" in chess. His strategic mind, competitive stubborn nature, and fight was present all the way until the end. Edward S. Bayer departs us to join his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ leaving his wife, Pat Bayer, his 8 children, 19 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, his son-in-laws, Martin Knudsen, Scott O'Conner, Randy Vild and Jesse Pike, his sisters, Patsy, Colleen, Rosemary and JoAnn (deceased), and his brothers, Kenny, Terry, Kevin and Timmy. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered with love.