James E. "Ed" Vardy was born November 4, 1922 in Manchester, Oklahoma, one of seven children born to Arthur Edward and Vera Irene (Tinklepaugh) Vardy. He grew up on the family farm nine miles south of Bluff City, Kansas. He attended Bluff City High School before transferring to Wakita High School where he graduated with the Class of 1941.

He began college at Northwestern Oklahoma Teachers College in Alva, Oklahoma. Before he was able to complete his degree he returned home to run the family farm. Soon after, his letter from President Franklin D Roosevelt came calling him to serve his country.

In January of 1943 he was inducted into the United States Army. He completed basic training in Florida. After qualifying as a rifle marksman he boarded the Queen Mary vessel to England, zigzagging across the Atlantic, trying to avoid the enemy, before coming to a stop at Scotland where the troops had to be let off due to the English Channel being filled with bombs. Once in Europe he headed toward Hampton, England to wait for D-day. He was a radar operator when D-day came but the Germans were low on fuel and could not fly their planes so he became a go between for the infantry and the 63rd fighter wing, a position that put him in the front lines where he saw a lot of action, action he tried to forget ever since. During his service time he received five bronze stars for his service in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes Rhineland (Battle of the Bulge) and Central Europe. He also received an American Theater Campaign Medal, EAME Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Although the War was a time he tried to forget, there were a few memories he made. While in France the USO tour troops came through and he got the chance to personally sit and have coffee with Bob Hope, Patty Dumas, Jerry Calona, Jack Pepper, General Opie Wayland and others. Since he did not have a piece of paper he used a 10 Franc to get their signatures and has kept it all these years.

After returning to the farm when he was discharged in December 1945, he met his first wife, Phillis Nadine Hess. He and Phillis were married on December 8, 1946. They made their home on a farm east of Manchester and were blessed with three children: Dennis, Larry and Gail. They raised their family in a loving Christian home. They were both dedicated members of the Manchester Christian Church. Sadness struck the family on June 11, 1970, when their son, Larry passed away. A few years later, Phillis was diagnosed with cancer and she met Larry in Heaven on November 8, 1981.

On April 2, 1983, Ed married Gladys Butz at the Manchester Christian Church. They continued farming together and Ed carried the rural mail route. For entertainment they joined a bowling league in Anthony and spent many years enjoying this.

After retiring they moved to Anthony and became members of the Anthony Christian Church, where Ed served as an Elder. He was also a member of the American Legion and VFW.

On January 16, 2018, Ed passed away at the Anthony Medical Center Home Comfort at the age of 95 years, 2 months and 12 days. He was also preceded in death by his parents; all of his siblings: Irene, Ida, Vernamae, Elisa, Anne and Glenn; and his grandson, Austin Box.

Ed will be deeply missed by his wife, Gladys; his children: Dennis Vardy and wife, Connie, and Gail Box and husband, Craig; five grandchildren: Jimmy Vardy and wife, Carol, Janie Tubbs and husband, Terry, Cindy Sherradan and husband, Scott, Courtney Lincoln and husband, Ben, and Whitney Box; 10 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Christian Church in Anthony, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Manchester Cemetery. Visitation will be held 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony. Memorials may be made to the Manchester Cemetery or the Austin Box #12 Foundation and may be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.