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Edsel J. “Coupe” De Ville Colonel Edsel J. “Coupe” De Ville of Litchfield, SC, slipped the bonds of earth on October 21, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born on Sept. 21, 1938, in Eunice, Louisiana, Coupe was the son of Joseph and Hazel Deville and a proud graduate of Louisiana State University. He also received a Masters Degree from Georgia College. Col. De Ville entered the U.S. Air Force in 1961 and served his country as a Command Pilot for 28 years, logging over 5,000 hours in 12 different aircraft. He volunteered for two tours of combat duty in Vietnam, flying more than 400 combat missions. Over his Air Force career, Coupe flew a variety of fighter aircraft, including the A-10 in which he was a Top Gun. He was also awarded the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. He was first assigned to Myrtle Beach Air Force Base in 1978 as commander of the 355th Tactical Flying Squadron. In 1987 he returned to Myrtle Beach Air Force Base where he served as Base Commander until his retirement in 1989. After his Air Force retirement, Coupe became involved in many facets of the Myrtle Beach community. He was instrumental in the conversion of Myrtle Beach Air Force Base to the Market Common, particularly the establishment of War Bird Park which honors its heritage. He was also a member and president of the Surfside Area Rotary Club, a member the Elliott White Springs Flight of the Daedalians, and Chairman of the Horry County Ride II Committee. He was a man who walked in his faith, one who loved his family and friends as well as fishing and flying. Col. De Ville is survived by his wife Della M., daughters Paula Shore, Mignon Bosse, and Monique De Ville, one sibling, Sister Dorothy De Ville Cavaness, O. Carm., sons-in-law Michael Shore and Richard Bosse, ten grandchildren: Margeaux Shore, Peter Shore, Jacob Shore, Paul Shore, Luke Shore, Luke Bosse, Nicholas Bosse, William Bankhead, Elizabeth Bankhead, and Katherine Bankhead, and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Monty and C.E. Martin, Jr. A sister, Dr. Seraphia DeVille Ledya, preceded him in death. A funeral mass in his honor will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Garden City with visitation starting at 9:45 am prior to the service. The interment will be at the Louisiana National Cemetery at 9:00 AM Friday, November 11, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be made to Tidelands Hospice, 2591 North Fraser St., Georgetown, SC 29440; Surfside Area Rotary Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 14190; Surfside Beach, SC 29587, or the National MPS Society, 4220 Apex Highway; Durham, NC 27713. Sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Tributes

Col. Edsel J "Coupe" De Ville

September 21, 1938 - October 21, 2016