Edward J. Meyers

Edward J. Meyers, 93, of Columbia City, died Saturday, June 17, 2017 at North Woods Village in Fort Wayne.

One of Whitley Countys longest serving judges, he was born May 18, 1924 in Columbia City to Edward J. Meyers Sr. and L. Eloise Meyers.

He grew up in Columbia City and graduated in 1941 from Columbia City High School on North Walnut Street, now the home for Columbia City Eagle Tech Academy.

In May of 1942, he enlisted for the Army Air Corps Cadet Program following the United States involvement in World War II. He graduated in August of 1943 as a pilot.

He trained in Texas and Arizona to be a fighter pilot, although his time in the service would find him in an unarmed aircraft.

He was assigned to an aerial photoreconnaissance unit whose task was to fly over and photograph enemy territory or recently gained Allied territory. Squadron members flew the P-38 Lightning, one of the fastest planes in the sky during the war.

He flew numerous missions and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses for missions where he sustained enemy fire and damage to his plane but still completed the missions.

He enrolled in 1946 at Indiana University School of Business in Bloomington after his honorable discharge from the military. He attended college year-round and achieved his business degree in 1949, at which time he enrolled in the Maurer School of Law, also at Indiana University.

He graduated in 1951 with a Juris Doctor degree and returned to Columbia City the following year where he practiced law with Jim Biddle.

In 1954, Meyers was elected Whitley County Prosecutor, a post he would hold for nearly 10 years until he was appointed in 1963 as judge of Whitley County Circuit Court.

On Nov. 10, 1977, he was united in marriage with Susan Rothert, and moved to their Tri-Lakes home they shared ever since.

He served as Circuit Court judge until April 1992 when he retired and became a Senior Judge, filling in for other judges on the bench as-needed until he retired in December 2008.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Richard Meyers, who was killed in World War II; and two sisters, Marjorie (Stanley) Nestingen of Wisconsin and Sally (Gail) Martin of Columbia City.

He is survived by his wife, Susan L. Meyers; a daughter, Susan E. (Barb) Meyers; two sons, Chris (Ashley) Meyers and John (Barbara) Meyers; a granddaughter, Kira Meyers-Guiden; grandsons Jon Adam Meyers and Josh Meyers; and several nieces and nephews.

There will be no graveside service or visitation.

Memorials can be made to Honor Flight of Northeast Indiana or the Humane Society of Whitley County. Arrangements with DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home.