Cmsgt Edward A. Bendinelli (Usaf Ret)

CMSGT Edward A. Bendinelli (USAF Ret), age 82, passed away on February 27, 2024. Ed was born in Walpole, MA on October 18, 1941, to Edward & Josephine Bendinelli. After graduating from Walpole High School in 1959, Ed enlisted into the US Air Force. From 1960-1977, Ed served at various overseas locations with the United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS), including two tours in Vietnam where he flew 236 missions aboard the EC-47 Airborne Radio Direction Finding platform, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and eleven Air Medals. On August 3, 1972, Ed returned from Vietnam and, later that same day, married the love of his life, Kathleen Marie Dolan. In 1978, after tours in Germany and Japan, they came to Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX, where Ed served with the USAFSS NCO Academy and then Intelligence Analyst training until his retirement in 1986. Ed & Kathie raised three “foreign-born” children: Bennie born in Germany, Tony born in Japan and Danielle born in West Texas. After retiring from the Air Force, Ed attended Angelo State University (ASU) where he earned both his Bachelor and Master’s degree in Business Administration. From 1988-1991, he taught Marketing & other courses at ASU and then, from August 1991 to January 2023, he served as Business Manager at Holy Angels Catholic Church in San Angelo. He was an active member of the local Knights of Columbus, the “small but robust” Heritage Chapter of the Freedom through Vigilance Association and served on the 1st Community Federal Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee for 20 years.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Kathie, children Edward (Bennie) of San Antonio, Texas, Anthony of New York City and Danielle of Ogden, Utah, and one grand-son, Luca Boston Bendinelli of San Antonio. Also left behind to mourn his passing are brothers Peter of Samoa and Leo of Ogden, Utah, sister Loretta (Tim) Brightman of Franklin, MA and their children Stephen and Elyse.

The Funeral Mass will be 10:00 A.M., Friday, March 8, 2024 at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.