Source: http://www.steedtodd.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=22240&locid=18

Charles “Ed” Kirksey
February 2, 2012

Charles Edward Kirksey “Ed,” was born in Brownwood, Texas on August 25, 1919 as the youngest of ten children (five sisters and four brothers). His father John Edward Kirksey passed away within two months of Ed's birth. Angeline Goates Kirksey raised the entire family after the oldest son, Treece Kirksey age 13 at the time, was required to quit going to school and devote full- time to the farm work. Times were very hard economically for the family. When Ed was seven years old, the family moved from Brownwood, Texas to Rogers, New Mexico. Ed later attended Portales High School and played football for four years. Upon graduation Ed worked at his brother Clarence's dry-cleaning shop in Portales. He later hired out in June 1941 with the Santa Fe railroad as a Fireman. While doing his student trips, he worked part-time at another dry-cleaning shop in Clovis.

During his first year as Fireman with the Santa Fe, his then-girlfriend Elizabeth Jean Ohr worked in Washington, DC as a secretary with the Department of Agriculture. Ed sent Elizabeth (Beth) a penny post-card every day asking her to come back and marry him. They were married in June of 1942. Their son, Charles Douglas, was born in February 1944. While deferred from military service due to having a critical defense occupation as a railroad Fireman, Ed chose to waive that deferment and joined the United States Navy in June of 1944. He was trained in Boot Camp at Treasure Island, California. He received further training in Biloxi, Mississippi in Advanced Steam Propulsion School. He was subsequently assigned as a “Plankowner” (a member of the first crew) to the Destroyer USS Robert K. Huntington (DD781) during its “shakedown cruise.”

Ed served as a water-tender third-class as a member of the engineering division during the following events: Ed injured his shin on the Huntington during underway replenishment at sea and was transferred to Bremerton Hospital in Washington state. After recuperation in June 1945, Ed was transferred to the Troop Transport, USS Telfair (APA 210). The Telfair was in Washington undergoing repairs for damage by a kamakazi plane that had hit the Telfair during the battle of Okiniawa. The ship continued as a member of various Naval Task Groups throughout the South Pacific. The ship landed troops on several islands including Tinian, a short time before the Enola Gay departed for its atomic bomb mission to Hiroshima.

A few days after the surrender of Japan, the Telfair was a member of the task group that accompanied the USS Missouri into Tokyo Bay for the official surrender. Ed was able to directly observe the unopposed US troop landing during the initial occupation of Japan. At the end of October, Telfair reported for Operation Magic Carpet duty to ferry US troops home. On 2 November, she arrived at Samar, in the Philippines, where she embarked her first load of veterans for the return voyage to the United States. On the 4th, the attack transport departed the Philippines and, after almost three weeks at sea, entered port at Portland, Oregon. Telfair remained on the west coast until Christmas Eve when she weighed anchor to return to the western Pacific. She stopped at Saipan at the end of the first week in January 1946; then continued on to Manila where she moored on the 12th.

After hostilities, Ed continued his Naval service during Magic Carpet until departing the Telfair in April 1946, San Francisco. He returned to Treasure Island and mustered out of the Navy. One of his older brothers, Noble Kirksey, attended that ceremony at Terminal Island near Long Beach. Ed then caught the Santa Fe train San Waukeen Daylight from Los Angeles to Clovis. Artie Lee Kelly who joined Telfair in Manilla and Ed played in snow in Flagstaff during a train stop-off after the first day of the trip. On the second day they arrived in Belen, NM. Ed, so excited to be back on the railroad went to the front of the train and rode the engine with Mr. Keinan the engineer. Ed was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal, the World War II medal, and the American Campaign medal for his service to our country.

Ed then returned to work with Santa Fe railroad as Fireman as before the war. He later became an Engineer with the Santa Fe and served for several years as local Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers. He served for forty-three years, three months and 29 days with the Santa Fe with a stellar attendance and safety record.

Ed and Beth later had two daughters, Edwina and Ardeth.

Ed enjoyed working with his hands and was highly skilled at woodworking and lapidary. He was a great general handyman who could fix just about anything. As a parent sponsor, Ed also assisted A. C. Stinson with Troop 66 Boy Scouts of America in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Ed and his wife Beth worked together as volunteers with Band Boosters and other activities in support of their children.

Over the last twenty years, both Ed and Beth worked actively with Meals on Wheels and assisted with religious services regularly on Sunday mornings for residents of the Retirement Ranch. Ed was active in Central Baptist Church where he was a deacon and member of the Glory Choir.

Charles Edward Kirksey was a loyal and loving husband and father and a good friend and neighbor to all who knew him. Survivors include two daughters, Ardeth Leslie and Edwina Porter, both of Clovis; a son-in-law Lonnie Leslie of Clovis; a son, Charles Kirksey of Oakton, Va.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Ed and Beth were strong supporters of the Baptist Children's Home and the family suggest memorials be made to the Baptist Children's Home, P. O. Box 629, Portales, NM 88130.

Submitted by Charles D. Kirksey