Ed was born September 23, 1923, in South Lebanon to Henry and Martha (Vanover) Lunsford.
By 1942, he was working as a truck driver. On February 23, 1945, in Anniston, Alabama, he married Dorothy Lucille Hildebrand.
Ed served in World War II as a United States Merchant Marine and United States Army Staff Sergeant in the 33rd Division in the Philippines and Japan.
Upon returning home, he went back to driving trucks.
On December 15, 1959, he was appointed to the Cincinnati Police Park Police Department as a Park Patrolman. Park Sergeant Lunsford retired January 1, 1986, with 26 years of service.
He was very active in Masonic bodies, including 67 years in the Yeatman Lodge #162, Norwood Chapter #193 of Royal Arch Masons, and Hubert O. Auburn Council #149 of Royal Select Masters, and Hanselmann Commandery #16. On December 12, 1959, the Yeatman Lodge 162, F. & A. M. installed him as the Worshipful Master. He was a recipient of the Knight York Cross of Honor and a member of the Syrian Shrined and Scottish Rite.
Sergeant Lunsford died August 5, 2022, about 1½ months before his 99th birthday.
He was predeceased 32 years ago by his wife of 45 years, Dorothy Lucille Lunsford; daughter, Bonnie Kay Lunsford; grandchildren, Matthew Colwell, Tracy Ann Rouse, and Donna K. Colwell; great-grandchildren, Ashley Rouse, Aubrey Rouse, Jaycie Rouse, William Joseph Colwell, Austin Rouse, Jr., and Elijah Rouse; sisters, Sarah Lunsford, Mellwood Helsley Mary Thomas, Elva Lois Kallaher, Geraldine Andrews, Theophilus Lunsford, and Virgil Lunsford.
Sergeant Lunsford is survived by his daughters, retired Cincinnati Police Clerk Typist II Geraldine Lois (Keith) Koch and Mary Elizabeth (Robert) Rouse, and grandchildren, Edward H. (Renee) Colwell and, Dorothy Ray (Kevin) Kelley, Rebecca Lynn (Joseph) Hieber, Robert (Shannon) Rouse, Rachel Rouse, and Jason (Stephanie) Rouse, Tyler Koch, and Craig Koch, and others. great-grandchildren, Elliott Colwell, Deanna Adelhardt, Emily Colwell, Kevin Kelley, Krystal Bertke, Kaitlyn Kelley-Porter, Sara Brown, Justin Hieber, Joseph T. Hieber, Cody Rouse, Levi Wolf, Megan Morris, Chad Wolf, Elizabeth Wolf, Hannah Rouse, Brooke Rouse, Robert Rouse, Austin Rouse, Robert Z. Rouse, Becky Kramer, Sofia Rouse, Jose (Sam) Rouse, Aby Rouse, Mady Rouse, Lillie Rouse, Chase Rouse, and Nathan Rouse; and great-great-grandchildren, Vincent Kelley, Elliott Walter Bertke, Wyatt Bertke, Annslee Morris, Ellie Rouse, Khloe Rouse, and two on the way.
Visitation will be held 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, August 15, 2022 at the Dalbert, Woodruff and Isenogle Funeral Home. A FOP service will be held at 7:30 p.m. A Masonic Service and Scottish Rite Ring Ceremony will follow. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 16, 2022.
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