Edward Earl Paden, 89, passed away on November 17, 2019 in Tyler, Texas. He was born on May 19, 1930 in Binghamton, New York to Edward Earl Paden and Lydia Priscilla Rickerson.
He served two tours in the United States Navy during the Korean War and was a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. He was a graduate of the University of California at Northridge with a degree in Industrial Management. Edward’s early career included Engineering and Management positions with Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, and Litton Guidance and Control Systems. His projects included pioneering the development of early rocket guidance systems integral to NASA’s space program. He also worked in the shipbuilding industry for McMullen Associates in New York and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Ed joined Levingston Shipbuilding Company in Orange, Texas as Executive VP and advanced to President and CEO in 1976. He later acquired Penn Shipbuilding in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He retired from Industry in 1989 to become a Cattle Rancher and built his beloved final home, Sugarhill Ranch in Mount Pleasant, Texas.
Edward is survived by his loving wife, Thelma Ruth Paden; daughter, Deborah Ann Paden Cober; daughter, Jennifer Ann Paden; grandchildren, Christopher G. Smith and wife, Lisa; and Jessica A. Nadeau and husband, Stephen; great granddaughter, Samantha Ann Smith; and sister, Joyce Bebee.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his daughter, Rebecca Ann Paden.
A funeral service will be held for Edward on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at Bates-Cooper-Sloan Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant, Texas at 3:30 PM with a visitation being held an hour prior to the service, at the funeral home.
Online registry is available at batescoopersloanfuneral
home.com
