Edgar F. Sanborn Jr.

Edgar F. Sanborn Jr., 92, of Cape Coral, died March 9, 2008, at Hope Hospice in Fort Myers, after an extended illness.

He was born to parents Edgar F. Sanborn Sr. and Lillie Sanborn at Winthrop, Mass., Dec. 9, 1915. Elementary education was in Nantucket, Mass. He graduated from Buckley High School in New London, Conn., and the University of Rhode Island with a BS degree in engineering.

He married his wife Marion Dec. 6, 1941. They resided in Pleasantville, N.Y., while Edgar was employed by a large engineering firm in New York City.

He was drafted by the U.S. Army in March 1943. After basic training and with the rank of corporal, he entered officer candidate school in Fort Belvoir, Va., graduating as a second lieutenant in November 1943. He was assigned to the 145th Engineer Combat Battalion at Camp White, Medford, Ore. In April 1944 he was sent to England then to Normandy, landing on Omaha Beach on July 7, 1944. As a member of Gen. Patton’s 3rd Army, he traveled through France, Belgium and Luxemburg, where he was in the Battle of the Bulge, then on to Germany where he attended the famous Nurnberg trials. In 1946 he returned to the U.S., remaining in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reserve.

In May 1951, he was recalled to active duty with the U.S. Army Engineers during the Korean conflict with the rank of captain, serving on Texas Air Force bases doing civil engineering projects for the Air Force. He was promoted to the rank of major in September 1953 and retired from the reserves as a lieutenant colonel in 1964.

After his military service, he was associated with the Frederick R. Harris Inc. engineering firm (fourth largest in the world at the time) as civil engineer-project manager. With main headquarters in London, he was assigned to large projects, such as building seaports, oil tank farms, etc., in 15 countries including Canada, Venezuela, Israel, Pakistan, India, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Belgium and Saudi Arabia. In addition, he and Marion visited 13 other countries by air and cruise ships including one trip around the world by ship.

He was predeceased by Marion, his wife of 60 years; his parents; his brother, Robert, and his sister, Mary.

He is survived by his sister, Virginia Beaumont of Vero Beach, Fla., and his brother Paul (Mildred) of Cape Coral; 12 nieces and nephews; and many friends in the United States and around the world. He was a life member of the VFW, Fellow-American Society of Civil Engineers and Fellow, Institute of Engineers-Australia and a devoted member of Faith Presbyterian Church, Cape Coral.

A memorial service will be conducted 10 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at Faith Presbyterian Church, 4544 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Hospice, 9470 Health Park Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908.

Arrangements by Metz Chapel of Harvey-Engelhart, Metz Funeral Home, Cape Coral.