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Thomas Edward Hanson

Posted 2015-04-25 by Sharla
Silver Creek Mortuary,
Taylor, Arizona

Thomas Edward Hanson
(May 6, 1920 - April 15, 2015)

Thomas Edward Hanson passed away April 15, 2015. He was born May 6, 1920 to Thomas and Sophia Hanson in Wallsend, England. He spent his youth in England and India. His parents were friends of T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia fame), which led to a memorable occasion when Edward went motorcycling with Lawrence.

He served in the Royal Air Force during WWII. He served in Europe and Africa. After the war he became an aeronautical engineer. During his forty year career he was involved in the design of many now famous commercial and military aircraft.

In 1950 he married Hilda Gregory, to whom he would be married for nearly 63 years. They soon had two children, Geoff and Rosemary Hanson. They emigrated to the US in 1967. Edward was recruited from England due to his engineering expertise. He worked another 20 years for Rohr Aircraft in California.

An avid lifelong camper, he and Hilda did much RVing after retirement, seeing much of the US, Canada and Mexico. He was very active in the Episcopal church most of his life, serving in many different roles over the years. In 2010 he and Hilda moved to Snowflake, Arizona.

He is survived by his son: Geoff Hanson; his daughter and son-in-law Rosemary and Chris Aitchison; granddaughter: Melody (Torry) Steed; grandson: Simon Aitchison; and great-granddaughter Kaylee Steed. He will be missed by many.




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