COL Edward E. Schultz, U.S. Army (Retired)

COL Edward E. Schultz, U.S. Army, Retired, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, September 5, 2021, surrounded by his wife and children.  Ed was born in Palm Harbor, FL on August 15, 1935.  He was the only child of Arnold & Louise Schultz.  Ed graduated from Clearwater High School in 1953 and went on to the University of Florida (Go Gators!).  He married his high school sweetheart Myrtle on September 4, 1955.

Ed worked for his father’s construction company in Dunedin, Florida for several years, eventually rising to CEO.  He was a member of the Florida National Guard from 1953 until 1966.  He proudly entered active duty with the U.S. Army in 1966 and completed two tours of Viet Nam.  The family also enjoyed a lifetime of moving to different parts of the world, being stationed in Fort Benning, GA; Fort Bragg, NC; Butzbach, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany, Fort Leavenworth, KS, Selfridge ANG Base, Mt. Clemons, MI; the Pentagon, Arlington, VA and finally Fort McPherson, GA, where he retired in 1989.  During his Army career Col. Schultz earned numerous medals including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star, among several others.

After his military career he returned to Weeki Wachee, Florida to be part owner and CEO of Suncoast Gateway Mobile Village, a mobile home park developed by his father in Port Richey, FL.  Later he and Myrtle built a home in Midland, GA where he proudly witnessed the opening of the Infantry Museum on Fort Benning, GA.  In 2014, they moved to Shalimar, FL where he enjoyed his beloved Florida once again.

Ed was predeceased by his parents, and numerous aunts and uncles.  He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 66 years, Myrtle, and their three children, Virginia, Beverly and Edward (Holly).   Also mourning his passing are nine grandchildren (Matt & Jeff Cooney, Mandy Gammon (Mark) Rachel Gravitt, David Janeski (Aly), Katie Hart (Zach), Paige & Ginny Moore and Eddie Schultz; and numerous great-grandchildren.   He is also survived by his lifelong friend and fellow soldier LTC John Napper, U.S. Army, Retired.

Col. Schultz will be interred with full military honors at the Florida National  Cemetery in Bushnell, FL on Thursday, September 16, 2021.  Services will be held at Purcell Beyers Funeral Home, 114 W. Noble Avenue, Bushnell, FL - Visitation at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Funeral Service at 11:30 and a small military service at the Florida National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m.  Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com

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