Edward Frank Kruse Jr., son, brother, father, grandfather and friend departed this world December 12, 2021 after a brief illness. He was born in Chickasha, OK on April 23, 1934 to Edward Kruse Sr. and Lucille Gillow Kruse during the depths of the Great Depression and just before the start of WW II. He was the eldest of three children and was an industrious child, taking up a paper route at age 12 to earn spending money. He was athletic and played tennis on the high school team and also, in time, developed a passion for golf. He was musically inclined and played saxophone in the school band. He discovered a natural ability and skill for engine mechanics and loved building model airplanes. He enjoyed nature and while still in high school, spent two summer recesses working as a volunteer with the US Forestry Service in St. Mary's, Idaho. Upon graduating high school, he spent a year attending college before being drafted into the army in 1956. He spent two years in Germany, learning the trade of engine mechanics. He enjoyed his time in Germany and said that he would have stayed after the service if he had secured employment. Receiving an honorable discharge, Eddie headed to Lubbock, TX, where his parents had moved and settled. He later married and had two daughters. He was part owner in a dry cleaning business and then, later, worked in the film developing business. He eventually left Texas and went to California for a short time before locating to Tulsa, OK to attend aircraft mechanics school, graduating and receiving certification.

He then found employment in Ohio and then later in Virginia working on small aircraft engines. It was while living in Virginia that he developed a love for "Blue Grass" music and enjoyed attending small blue grass festivals. This love of "Blue Grass" endured for the rest of his life. Eventually, Ed wanted to be closer to family and headed back to Texas. He became enamored with the TX Hill Country and settled in Kerrville, eventually opening a successful BBQ restaurant making many friends along the way. He is still known to some old-timers as "BBQ Ed". He closed his BBQ business when auto traffic was diverted from Kerrville with the completion of Interstate Hwy 10. He learned a new trade as a painter, working in home construction and became an excellent custom cabinet refinisher. He enjoyed a long employment and friendship with Charles Rowan for whom he worked for several decades. Never afraid of hard work and understanding the meaning of "get the job done" he worked steadily until age 78.

In his later years he enjoyed feeding the birds and deer at his Ingram, TX home, loved finding a bargain at his local thrift store, engaging with the ladies he would meet during his HEB grocery store runs and making trips in his car to Austin, Ft Worth and Tomball, TX. He was proud and fiercely independent, capable, kind hearted and generous. A good listener and conversationalist and a man of his word. He also enjoyed his privacy and solitude. He had his own sense of style and dressed with flair when he chose to. He enjoyed friendship and was solicitous of others' well-being and quick to help when needed. He loved family and could inject fun and levity in social gatherings. He could be stubborn, brusque, and curt and did not suffer fools easily. He could be charming, as evidenced by an interaction with the female MD treating him while at the hospital. Upon entering his room and introducing herself she commented on how good Ed looked for his 87 years to which he teased "are you flirting with me?".

He lived his life freely and authentically with no affectation-always himself. Although not a member of a church organization, he believed in the word of the Bible and in his Savior, Jesus Christ. He took comfort in this knowledge throughout his final days. He leaves behind two daughters, Susan Kruse and her life partner John Reed and Leigh Kruse Paine and Son-In-Law Jake Paine; sister, Sherry Troxel; nieces Jennifer Holzaephel, Tami Kasper and Tonya Ornduff and grandchildren John Paine, Alida Paine and Jackson Paine. He was preceded in death by his father Edward Kruse Sr., his mother Lucille Kruse and brother Robert Kruse.

In memory of Edward Kruse

There is no light without a dawning

No winter without a spring

And beyond the dark horizon

Our hearts will once more sing…

For those that leave us for a while

Have only gone away

Out of a restless, care worn world

Into a brighter day

--Helen Steiner Rice