Edgar Paul Odenwalder, Jr., 93, a resident of Dickinson, Texas, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2024. Born on July 26, 1931, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Edgar Paul Odenwalder, Sr. and Agnes (Denny) Odenwalder, Ed was a fiery redhead like his mother. His early years were spent moving across the country—Chicago, New York City, Virginia, and Miami—as his father pursued a career in the burgeoning aviation industry. These experiences ignited Ed’s lifelong passions for aviation, science fiction, and horror, as evidenced by his prolific library. Standing tall at 6’3″ by high school, he developed a love for basketball that lasted a lifetime.

Growing up during the Depression era and World War II, Ed embodied the virtues of resourcefulness, resilience, and personal responsibility. He cherished his siblings: his sister Mary and her husband Jacque, who became like a second brother to him, and younger brother Jim and wife Barbara.

Ed pursued physics at Virginia Tech (VPI) while simultaneously completing military training, leading to his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force upon graduation. His military service seamlessly transitioned into his career, with assignments on Wallops Island—the home of early missile and rocketry programs—and later in Del Rio and Biloxi. It was in Biloxi that his life changed forever when he met the love of his life, Peggy Hover, on a blind date. Their courtship was filled with beach outings, outdoor adventures, and cherished times with friends. Peggy fondly remembered her “Officer” and the wonderful moments they shared at the officers’ club.

Married for over 60 years, Ed and Peggy raised four children—sons Edgar Paul “Trip” Odenwalder III (Abbe) and Michael Odenwalder (Michelle), and daughters Margaret “Bobbie” Pfluger (Wayne) and Nancy Belansky (David). After raising their children with an idyllic childhood in a loving home in Dickinson, Peggy and Ed built their dream home – a tree house on the bayou.  Ed had high expectations as a parent, yet he and Peggy always encouraged their children to find their passions. He was a devoted father who somehow managed to balance his demanding career with family life, seldom missing family dinners or his children’s activiti

Despite the challenges of his work, which often kept him away from home for months at a time—including stints as far away as Hawaii—Ed maintained close ties with his family. One of his most memorable gestures was gifting his son his 1966 MGB convertible, upon his high school graduation—a testament to his trust and belief in his son’s abilities.

Ed’s scientific and engineering prowess led him back to Langley during the late 1950s for the birthing of NASA. Selected as part of a small team tasked with organizing and implementing the Manned Spacecraft Center in what was then a vast expanse of muddy cow pastures, he took immense delight in working alongside the pioneers and giants of space engineering—from the first flights through much of the Space Shuttle program. A true rocket scientist, he was a principal contributor to the first-ever satellite communications systems, establishing the first real-time earth-satellite communications system. Despite this, his granddaughter Zoe, a financial professional, once remarked, “Grandpa, you went into the wrong career!” highlighting his lifelong success in stock investing.

Ed had a lifelong love for sports and was an athlete throughout his life. Even in his 80s, he was a racquetball champion in Texas, showcasing his athleticism and competitive spirit. Family vacations were filled with camping trips to West Texas’s Big Bend during winters, joyous Christmas and Easter celebrations, and annual summer outings to New Braunfels for river rafting and beer garden polka dancing.

An active member of the Shrine of the True Cross Catholic Church for over 60 years, Ed was deeply committed to his faith and was eagerly looking forward to his upcoming Manresa Retreat. As a “son of God,” his spiritual life was an essential part of who he was. He was loved by his many nieces and nephews from Peggy’s family—the Cornells—and was known as a wonderful neighbor and friend.

After retirement, Ed and Peggy traveled around the country in their fifth wheel, spending cherished time with their grandchildren, reading while relaxing in their favorite destinations, and enjoying splendid meals on cruises or at Commander’s Palace in Peggy’s beloved New Orleans. His personality was a blend of fun, sincerity, and a bit of orneriness. One friend fondly recalled, “Your tall, red flat-top-haired father was such a gem. Ornery and fun and funny and sincere.”

Ed is preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Peggy. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his sons, Edgar Paul “Trip” Odenwalder III (Abra) and Michael Odenwalder (Michelle); daughters, Margaret “Bobbie” Pfluger (Wayne) and Nancy Queen (David); grandchildren, Evan Smith (Jackie), Michael Belansky, Alex Odenwalder, Zoe Odenwalder (Evan), Miranda Maines (Ralph), Ashley Holub (Curtis), and Clayton McEntire (Michelle); and seven great-grandchildren. He will also be greatly missed by his friend and caregiver, Maria, and her husband Miguel Olmos.

Ed’s life was a testament to dedication, passion, and love—for his family, his work, his faith, and the world around him. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the pioneering contributions he made to space exploration.

In his honor, a visitation will be held on Monday, November 11, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with a rosary to follow at 7:00 pm at Crowder Funeral Home in Dickinson, Texas. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 10:30 am at the Shrine of the True Cross Catholic Church in Dickinson, Texas. Committal will follow at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers are Evan Smith, Michael Belansky, Ralph Maines, Alex Odenwalder, Edgar Paul “Trip” Odenwalder III, and Michael Odenwalder.