Major Edmond Richard Humm, USMC (Ret.) age 88, passed away at 11:57 AM, Saturday July 29 ^th , 2023 in the comfort of his home and  under the vigilant care of his family.  Grieving their loss, his loved ones were none the less surprised at the first battle Ed had ever lost.

The sun didn't go dark and the world didn't stop turning but this was the experience of those who loved the extraordinary man.

Edmond was born October 6 ^th , 1934 in Los Angeles, California to Dorothy Rose (Mockler) Humm and Edmond Aloysius Humm.

Edmond leaves behind 4 daughters: Nikki Ann (Humm) Grant, Mary Elizabeth (Humm) Shuler, Christina Marie (Humm) Drastura, and Margaret Mary Humm. One sister remains: Georgia (Humm) Brock of Las Vegas, Nevada. He is survived by 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren .

Preceding him in death are his wife of 63 years: Dolores Yvonne (Shives) Humm; his only son, Edmond Michael Humm; and his elder sister, Elizabeth J. Humm.

Edmond married his high school sweetheart  January 25, 1953 in the old San Gabriel Mission in California.

Edmond entered the United States Marine Corps on January 3 ^rd , 1952 at age 17. He served 3 tours in Vietnam, 2 peacetime tours in Japan during the Reconstruction, and 1 tour in the Philippines during the course of the US build-up presence to oppose a growing, violent revolutionary presence.

Though Ed started his career as a voluntold machine-gunner, he frequently changed occupation specialties out of a desire to build experience and eventually become a Marine aviator. Edmond was barred from this path due to being color-blind. It did, however, spark a lifelong mechanical interest, in which he became a specialist of rotary-wing aircraft. But his focus was not limited to hardware.

In his off duty hours, Edmond obtained a BS in Computer Engineering. This aided him as part of the Marine Corps' spearheading initiative to construct a computer system which would collect Marine after-action reports and generate a large-scale accurate presentation of the theater of war for high-ranking Navy and Marine personnel, whom he was given the terrifying honor of briefing daily while serving off the coast of Vietnam aboard the Pacific Fleet's flagship commanded by Rear Admiral McCain.

The later years of his service saw him earn his MBA while further specializing in helicopter mechanics and avionics. As a Major, he held the position of maintenance crew chief for Marine One, the Presidential helicopter, under Presidents Nixon and Ford, from both of whom he was awarded certificates of merit, in addition to many service and achievement medals. He was particularly proud of those medals denoting his expert marksman status for both rifles and sidearms which he retained every year of his service.

Major Edmond Richard Humm was honorable discharged in 1976, after 24 years of dedicated service to his country, and was unleashed upon an unsuspecting civilian populace.

It was there that he found executive positions with South Carolina's Department of Corrections (SCDC), World Airways, and Bank of America Headquarters in San Francisco, working in systems analyst and managing programs with the goal of integrating the companies' existing infrastructure with rapidly changing new computer systems technologies. He was employed by General Electric Nuclear Company as general manager then made a move to manage a small start-up company in Hayward California named Basic Software Services, owned by the Pfeiffer family of Hyatt Hotels.

Edmond's retirement consisted of watching over his growing family, for whom he worked so hard and risked so much. With the commitment to success that he approached everything in his life, he worked for some 30-odd years toward becoming an published author. More recently, his efforts at writing bore fruit. His Amazon book series, "Magic", still remains critically acclaimed among dog-lovers the English-speaking world over. One of his many legacies, it's hoped that more people will discover his books.

Ed, never idol and always eager for new experiences, enjoyed many and varied hobbies and pursuits.  He loved to dance. His favorite movies included song and dance men like Gene Kelly and James Cagney. Ed ventured into playing musical instruments. Laughingly he once said, "I play a mean record." He claimed to have a 'tin ear' but it didn't diminish his enjoyment of music and theater, in which he participated in his community productions in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  A self-taught artist in varied mediums and photography, he was accomplished in all. He was an avid car enthusiast and mechanic, rebuilding and restoring older sports cars. In the 1960s he and 2 friends were part of the burgeoning drag racing scene in Santa Ana, California. With them, he designed, built and raced a custom dragster. A physical enthusiast, Ed maintained a lifelong dedication to physical fitness and nutrition. Ed spent time every week at the gym, weightlifting and walked/jogged at the beach, weather permitting. He learned to sail and water ski, competed in racquetball and golf, to mention a few, and excelled at all. He obtained an old wooden schooner named Flossie and Anita. Together with John Watts and both their sons, sailed her down the Pawtucket River into the Chesapeake Bay and up the Potomac to dock near the town of Quantico, Virginia.

Ed approached everything in life with the same indomitable spirit and energy he devoted to his careers and family. Ed lived with enthusiasm and generosity. He gave as much of himself to others as he grasped from the energy of a life well lived. Always an inspiration, always still a part of our lives, he leaves a legacy of the love he gave, the respect he earned.

A Celebration of life is scheduled for October 6, 2023. Time and Location are currently pending.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. If you would like to make the donation online, please visit our website at https://alzfdn.org/donate/ You can choose to send a notification in honor or memory of someone. You can also call (866) 232-8484 and someone will take your donation on the phone.

Semper Fidelis