Edward T. Deschamps of Forest Grove, Pa. passed away Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, at the Buckingham Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Buckingham, Pa. He was 90.
Born in Doylestown, Pa. to the late Fred and Alice (Bernd) Deschamps, Ed was a lifelong resident of Forest Grove.
He was a graduate of Buckingham High School and later enlisted in the United States Navy Air Corps Reserve, where he was called to duty at the end of January 1945. Ed applied for the Navy Aviation Gunner’s Mate and also passed the exam to become a Naval Pilot. The purpose of the program was to grant a bachelor’s degree to future officers from both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
Unfortunately, the program was shut down with no need for additional pilots. Ed was later stationed in Shanghai and was attacked on the street by thugs when he was returning to his ship alone and was severely kicked all over his body. British sailors rescued Ed and he woke up seriously injured on a British ship and the sailors saved Ed’s life.
Ed was formerly employed as a highway engineer with the State of Pa., Union Paving Co. and Glasgow Paving, Inc. of Glenside for over 40 years. After retiring, he then became employed as a road master with New Britain Borough for another 20 years.
He was a member of the D & H Historical Society & Museum of High Falls, N.Y.; Exempt Member of Doylestown Masonic Lodge No. 245 F&AM; member of the German American heritage Foundation of the U.S.A. of Washington, D.C.; one of the founding members of the Buckingham Ski Club; and enjoyed snow skiing, water skiing, boating and tinkering with items.
He was the beloved husband for 59 years to Margit (Fett) Deschamps; the devoted father of Karin D. Lee (Donald), Nicolette D. Goldstein (Brian), Marguerite J. Turley (Michael) and the late Christian Allan Deschamps; dear brother of the late Jeanne Stroup and Joseph Deschamps; and the loving grandfather of Morgan Lee, Liam and Maya Turley, and James Goldstein.
