Edward Obeda
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Obituary of Edward G. Obeda

Edward G. Obeda January 21, 1927 - August 23, 2004 Edward G. Obeda, Former Brookfield Resident Edward George Obeda, 77, of New Port Richey, FL, died unexpectedly on August 23 in Atlanta, GA while visiting friends. Mr. Obeda was born in Little Ferry, NJ, Jan. 21, 1927, a son of the late John and Anna (Krch) Russ Obeda, who were both born in Tura Luka, Slovakia and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900's. The family moved to Brookfield when Mr. Obeda was a toddler. Ed attended Brookfield schools, including a one room school, and graduated from Danbury High School. He served with the U.S. Army during both World War II and the Korean War. He grew up in Brookfield and lived there for most of his life until the death of his wife of 48 years, the late Barbara Ann (Warner) Obeda, in March 2003. A few months after her death, Ed sold the family home on Sunset Hill and moved to Florida to be near his daughter Lou Ellen Obeda. Mr. Obeda retired from Branson Sonic Power in Danbury. During his time at Branson, he invented many ultrasonic products and applications, including the first ultrasonic sewing machine. The machine used heat (generated ultrasonically), instead of stitching, to bond fabric together. For that invention, Ed was a guest on the television show "What's My Line." While at Branson, Mr. Obeda was stationed in the Far East for several years, working to develop new markets for ultrasonics. At one point, he was part of a special US trade delegation to China, when that country was just beginning to open its borders to international corporations. Ed and Barbara enjoyed traveling in the region and he thereafter had an affinity for Oriental food, art, and decor. Following his retirement, Mr. Obeda founded Applied Ultrasonics and later Levelacq to produce and market some of his ideas and to explore new applications. At the time of his death, Ed held over 50 patents for his various inventions. Mr. Obeda was well known in the community for being the owner of the Brookfield Taxi and Livery Service during the 1950s and 1960s. The service was used by many residents for local and long distance trips, for special occasions, and for small school bus routes. He also, at one time, operated the local agency for Railway Express, meeting each train as it arrived at the old Brookfield train station. Ed was the longest active living member of the Congregational Church of Brookfield. He enjoyed feeding and watching the birds which flocked to the numerous feeders in his yard. He had a green thumb and the many plants in the yard and home testified to his horticultural prowess. With his wide knowledge of how things worked, he could fix just about anything. While in CT, he was a member of several trophy-winning bowling teams over the years. He was a long-time member of the Pokono Grange, as well. Ed is lovingly remembered by a daughter Lou Ellen Obeda of Holiday, FL, a son Edward J. Obeda (and his wife Suzanne) of Los Angeles, a step-daughter Sarah M. (Sally) Maestripieri (and her husband Leo) of New Bern, NC, and a step-son Douglas M. Smith of Lake Oswego, OR. One sister, Mildred Obeda Massey (and her husband John) of Goshen, CT, also survives. There are also a grandson and granddaughter, Jonathan E. and Olivia L. Obeda of Los Angeles, CA; two step-granddaughters, Lisa A. Tilton (and her husband George E. III) of Hillsboro, OH, and Lori L. Mathews of Chillicothe, OH; three step-great-grandsons, Kevin R. and Michael P. Tilton of Hillsboro, OH, and Tony M. R. Davis of Chillicothe, OH; a step-great- granddaughter Alaska L.G. Davis of Chillicothe, OH; many nieces and nephews; a special friend, Christine Seiler of Lady Lake, FL; and his beloved cat, Tiffany. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by five half-brothers, John Obeda, Paul O'Beda, Stephen J. O'Beda, Martin Russ, and Paul Russ, and five half-sisters, Anna Obeda Locascio, Susan Obeda Sollas, Elizabeth Obeda Rucker, Susan Russ Quissenberry, and Anna Russ Jocker Cavalarano. Funeral Information A memorial service will be held at the Congregational Church of Brookfield at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9. Interment will be in the church's Memorial Garden following the service. A small portion of his ashes will be reserved by family members to scatter in places he loved. There will be no calling hours; arrangements are being handled by Cornell Memorial Home.
A Memorial Tree was planted for Edward
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Cornell Memorial Funeral Home
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