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Edward E. Tinker, Maj. U.S.A.F. (retired), 85 years old, born March 8, 1918, died in Victoria, TX on July 25, 2003. He was a longtime resident of Albuquerque. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice Shafer Tinker of Victoria, TX; children, Stanley Edward Tinker and wife, Kathy,, Bill Thomas Tinker and wife, Kristi and Michael David Tinker and wife, Mikael all of Albuquerque, James Scott Tinker and wife, Debbie of Phoenix, AZ, Jeffrey Allen Tinker and wife, LeAnn of Golden, CO and Lisa Jane Tinker of Los Angeles, CA; stepsons, Dean Shafer and Bobby Shafer both of Victoria, TX and Mike Shafer of Sugarland, TX; sister, Sara Jane Soderstrom of Houston, TX; brother, William A. Tinker of Houston, TX. Ed Tinker had 14 grandchildren; eight step - grandchildren; nine great- grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren. Edward Tinker served for 31 years as a career Air Force fighter pilot. During WWII, he flew 42 combat missions before being shot down by a German ME-109 and spending nine months in a Bulgarian prisoner of war camp. Later he flew fighter jets during the Korean War and served his country in Asia, Europe, North Africa and the United States. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with ten oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart and numerous presidential citations and other meritorious awards. Ed Tinker is part Osage Indian, born in Pawhuska, OK. He was also the nephew of Maj. General Clarence L. Tinker, the namesake for Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, OK. Services are planned for Victoria, TX and a private family service in Pawhuska, OK.
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