Colonel Charles "Ed" Edwin Madden, Retired, age 83, passed away peacefully in his home in Marietta, GA, Thursday, August 5, 2021, after a long battle with cancer.

Col. Madden is survived by his wife, Betty Jones Madden; son, Chuck (Donna) Madden; step-daughter, Caroline Kate (Nick) McCormick; grandchildren, Charlie Madden, Caroline Madden, and Nick's son, Peyton Koch; Charlie's fiancée, Brianna Wahy; sisters-in-law, Pauline Madden and Hazel Madden; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who held a special place in Ed's heart.

Ed was born in Sanford, FL, on April 19, 1938, to the late A.C. and Eunice Herring Madden.  Also preceding Ed in death were his brothers, Harold Madden and Theron Madden; his sister, Jane (Wayne) Dickson; his son's mother, Chris Madden; and his 'fuzzy butt' pups, Raudi, Mocki, and Buddy.

Ed was the salutatorian of Sanford's Seminole High School, class of 1956, before graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in Industrial Management.  A member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity ('57), he was a lifelong devoted fan of the Yellow Jackets and never let his UGA Dawg-loving children and grandchildren forget it!  He later attended Syracuse University, where he earned a master's degree in Business Administration through the Army Comptrollership Program and membership into the International Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma.

Ed cherished being 'Granddaddy' and was faithfully involved in the lives of his loving grandchildren.  He cheered them on and immersed himself in all that they did – from Charlie's ice hockey and baseball to Caroline's volleyball and academics.  He also loved having a 'daughter' in Caroline Kate.  He loved traveling with Betty, Caroline, and Nick, and relished the chance to best them in numerous rounds of cards.

Aside from his family, Ed's greatest commitment was to the U.S. Army, which he served proudly for 27 years as a combat engineer, achieving the rank of Colonel.  He served in Korea (twice), Vietnam, Germany (three times), and a multitude of bases in the United States.  His awards included the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, and the Air Medal, as well as the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star.

After retirement, he continued to serve as a veteran as the Vice President, Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, where he enjoyed the academic atmosphere in a military setting.  In his later years, Ed volunteered with the USO, serving members of the armed forces passing through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Raised in the Baptist faith, before moving to Marietta, Ed most recently attended First Baptist Church Milledgeville.  An ever-faithful servant, he and Betty were active members of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church for over 20 years together, where they were dedicated to their Sunday School community, the Thompson Fellowship Class.

Ed was an avid reader and history buff and lived to travel. If he was not talking about sports, he was cross-country skiing, Volksmarching through Germany, or running the Peachtree Road Race 25 consecutive times, concluding his streak in 2015.  Young Edwin must have known that the next 65 years would be filled with a devotion to education, career, and especially family when the article, "Last Will and Testament," was printed in The Celery Fed , the Seminole High School newspaper, on May 31, 1956, marking the celebration of the senior class graduation:

"I, Edwin Madden, leave my personality along with my books 'How to Win at Battleship…'"

The family will receive visitors beginning at 10:00am on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at Marietta Funeral Home, prior to the funeral service at 11:00am (915 Piedmont Road, Marietta, GA 30066).  The family also invites all to join them afterward at Georgia National Cemetery for the committal service, including the rendering of military honors, beginning with a short processional at 2:00pm (1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton, GA 30114 – Proceed through the entrance gate and, before the bell tower, gather vehicles at the building on the right under "Madden.")

Pallbearers will be Ed's nephews, Steven Madden, Sherman Madden, and Lewis Dickson; Betty's brothers, Butch Jones and Frank Jones, and brother-in-law, Bob Goethe; and Ed's longtime military 'brother,' Lee Bowen. Honorary pallbearers will be USO volunteers from the Veterans Ministry of Mt. Bethel UMC.

For those who may be unable to travel, the funeral service will be streamed live at 11:00am on the Marietta Funeral Home Facebook page, with a recorded version posted afterward. Click here to log in and view.

Donations may be made to USO Atlanta (PO Box 20963, Atlanta, GA 30320; Memo : "In Memory of Ed Madden").  Online condolences may be expressed at www.mariettafuneralhome.org