Edward Lally

Edward Joseph Lally, 87, of Erlanger, KY, passed away on Wednesday November 20, 2013 at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood. Mr. Lally was a Food Facilities Designer/Consultant with Kruse Lally Rolfe and Associates. Ed loved his family greatly and was at his best when interacting with daughter Eileen and his grand/great-grandchildren. During WWII Ed bravely fought as an infantry rifleman, a sniper, in the frozen Alsace-Lorraine, Vosges Mountain Sector of the famous Battle of the Bulge. Known as Operation Nordwind, the Germans planned to move onto the Rhine River plain and recapture Strasbourg, potentially cutting off and endangering a large part of the American Army. Ed’s Seventh Army, Seventeenth Trailblazer Infantry Division helped prevent the enemy from thrusting south through the French Maginot Line and the mountain towns and villages of Niederbronn, Baerenthal, Philippsbourg, Forbach, and Wingen where the fighting was heavy. During the summer of 2010, Ed and family members enjoyed a formal tour of his old battlefields, where they received a hero’s welcome from grateful citizens and dignitaries, including battle re-enactors still honoring the American soldiers who liberated them. Ed was also a charter member and the second president of NKAR, from 1974-1976. He was a pioneer and an active advocate in NKAR’s efforts to acquire new services and dollars to fund them. Ed went on to serve as president of Arc of Kentucky in the 80’s and was commissioned as a member of the State Developmental Disabilities and Planning Council and the Inter-Departmental Committee of Handicapped Individuals by Governor Carroll. Ed was also a Kentucky Colonel, member of American Legion Post 20, member of the 40/8, Sons of American Legion, 70th Infantry Division Association Trailblazers, Charter Member Lions Club, Maywood Civic Club, and St. Henry Church. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Betty L. Lally of Erlanger, KY, daughter Carol A. Coston (Curt) of Villa Hills, KY, son Michael E. Lally (Barbie) of Lexington, KY, daughter Janet L. Schneider (Pete) of Akron, OH, daughter Eileen F. Lally of Erlanger, KY, 7 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, brother Robert W. Lally of Orchard Park, NY, brother James F. Lally of Clarence, NY, sister Mary Ann Willson of Las Cruces, NM, and sister Patricia A. Lally of El Paso, TX. Ed was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Anna Lally, and a brother Lawrence “Ralph” Lally. A visitation will be held on Sunday November 24, 2013 2pm until 4pm at Linnemann Funeral Home in Erlanger, KY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday November 25, 2013 at 10am at St. Henry Church in Elsmere, KY. Interment will be in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery North. Memorials can be sent to The Point Arc of Northern Kentucky 104 West Pike St. Covington, KY 41011. Online condolences can be made at www.linnemannfuneralhomes.com