U.S. Air Force veteran Edward Luna passed away at home in Bay City, Texas on January 9, 2024. He was 73.

Born in Palacios, "Eddie" graduated from Palacios High School in 1969. He studied data processing at Wharton County Junior College before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1971.

His 20-year Air Force career began at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas where he completed his basic military training. His first assignment at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas ended when he received orders for Vietnam. In 1972 Luna was stationed at Tan Son Nhut AB in Saigon. He later served at the Royal Thai Air Base U-Tapao in 1973, the same year the Vietnam War ended with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords.

Luna left Southeast Asia in 1973 for an assignment at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska. His subsequent assignments included tours at Bitburg, West Germany; George AFB, California; the Communications Radio Relay Station in Menorca, Spain; Fairford Royal Air Force Base in the United Kingdom where he was subsequently sent on temporary duty to Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital; Peterson AFB/Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado; Osan AB in South Korea and Shaw AFB, South Carolina. He retired from the Air Force in 1991.

Luna was a lifelong VFW member who supported military veteran events. He was also a proud member of the Matagorda County Cavalry. He helped organize and facilitate the "Wreaths Across America" campaign.

Luna was preceded in death by his father Dionicio Luna, Sr., a U.S. Army World War II combat veteran who served in the Pacific Theater, his mother Margarita Samora Luna, and siblings Consuelo Luna and Andrew Luna, Sr. He is survived by his eldest brother Dionicio Luna, Jr. (wife Silvia), a U.S. Army combat veteran and Purple Heart medal recipient, who served as an infantry M-60 machine gunner in Vietnam, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at the Palacios Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM with Roland Lopez officiating.  Interment will follow at the Palacios Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be: Kenny Brune, Jerry Herrera, Ricard Perez, Eddie Garcia, Ricky Matura, and Gilbert Yanes.

The family wishes to thank his friends and relatives for their attendance and condolences.