Edward H. Yursky
May 20, 1922 – May 15, 2020
From the 95th BG Memorials Foundation Facebook page:
The Memorials Foundation and the Heritage Association express profound grief at the passing yesterday, 15 May 2020, of Ed Yursky of North Ridgeville, OH, at the age of 97 years. Ed was a 336th tail gunner and former POW. He flew on the “Full House” crew with co-pilot Hal Halstead and the late Dick Gregory, navigator. Ed left formation at Jennings Senior Living in Garfield Heights from complications of COVID-19. Folded wings.
Ed was a native of Johnstown, PA, where he was born on 20 May 1922. As his obituary relates, he “had been a resident of North Ridgeville for the past 14 years after moving from Stuart, FL. He also lived in Seven Hills.
“He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII where he was a POW in Germany for 8½ months. He was a tail gunner on a B-17 serving in Normandy and earned the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Battle Stars. He was a member of the Barbed Wire Buckeyes, where he was the Commander from 1983-1985; VFW Post 1079, Elyria; life member of Disabled American Veterans and the 95th Bomb Group.
“Edward was a teacher for the Cleveland City School System for 35 years and was primarily at Lincoln West High School, retiring in 1984.
“He was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church in North Ridgeville, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Grand Knight of Council in Stuart, FL, from 1999-2000.
“He enjoyed golfing, leather work, woodworking, and working on his cars.
“He is survived by daughters Carol (Stuart) Heller of North Royalton, Kathy (Ken) Kotyk of Garfield Hts., and Mary (Barbara Hovekamp) Yursky of Lakewood; son John (Terri) Yursky of Olmsted Falls; grandchildren Kenny, Sara, Julia, Jennifer, and Emily; great-grandchildren Kevin, Kelly, Aidan, Callum, Graham, and Gabriel; sister Beverly Papalia of Seminole, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
“He is preceded in death by his wife Agnes, parents John and Mary Ann Yursky, sisters Helen Timchak and Marie Vilchinsky, and brothers John and Emil Yursky.
“A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date.
“Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Johnston, PA.
“In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Edward’s memory to the Cleveland Food Bank at www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org."
At Ed’s wishes, the family plans to bury his ashes and those of his beloved Agnes in the family plot in Johnston where the pair grew up. There will be military honors for Ed at that time.