Ed Trantham Jr.

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather Ed Trantham, Jr, 90, was born in Dover, Arkansas, September 10, 1929 to Ed and Salema Trantham and passed away in Llano, Texas on December 15, 2019.  He was one of nine children (3 boys, Virgil, Alvin and Ed and 6 girls, Bernice, Martha, Sara and Joyce, and still survived by his sisters Regina and Ruth).

He has been married to Evon Bauer Trantham for 40 years.  He has two daughters, Wanda Hallmark (Mark Jones) Austin,  Texas, and Cathy Bernal (Michael) San Antonio, Texas.  He has six grandchildren, Tiffany  (Jason) Kunzler, Vander (Bailey Price) Hallmark, Freddie (Sabrina) Trejo, Vincent (Kasey Spier) Trejo, Christopher and Kristen Bernal.  He has four great grandchildren,  Kaya, Cora, FLiT and Savannah. Ed is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, including Doug, Steve, John and Kenneth Bauer.

He is a Lifetime Member of the VFW, past Post Commander of 8541, San Antonio, Texas, and 10428 Kingsland, Texas, and their respective District Commanders and Adjutant of the American Legion Post 370, Llano, Texas.

He joined the United States Army on January 30, 1947, and did his Basic Training at Fort Hood, Texas. After Basic Training, he became a Medic. 

He attended Washington University in St Louis where he went to U.S. Army Optical School, passing the American Board of Opticianary examination and later teaching his trade. 

He served in both the Korean and Vietnam War and was stationed in St. Louis, Missouri, Tracy Army Hospital, Tokyo Army Hospital, Osaka Army Hospital, Sharpe General Depot, 32nd Medical Depot and Brooke Army Medical Center (San Antonio) where he was the NCOIC of the Ophthalmology/Optical Service.  

He faithfully served more than 22 years in the US Army, retiring as a Sergeant First Class.  He earned the following US military honors: Vietnam Campaign Medal with “60” Device, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), 2 Overseas Service Bars.

He opened Alamo Professional Optical making eyeglasses in San Antonio after retiring from the military. He owned the business until moving to Llano in 1979 and then worked part time in Llano and Marble Falls making glasses. He would talk about making glasses for many noteworthy people, some of which included President and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson.

Ed loved the country life. His passion was hunting, fishing and gardening. He always had an exceptional and large garden and never did anything in small quantities. He was a very hard worker and could outwork people half his age. He also loved to go gambling at the casinos around Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma with friends and family.

Arrangements under the care of Jenkins Funeral Home, Burnet, Texas.

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