Edward Clyde Worden, son of Edward O. and Leona Merton Worden, was born September 29, 1908 northeast of Bayard. He passed away December 31, 1973 at Tacoma, Washington. He grew up on the farm and attended Osage Valley Country School.
He was united in marriage to Olive Marie Gamble July 3, 1942. She survives and their children Ronald C., Kelly S., and Melody L. Gakin of Tacoma, Cheryl A. Scott, Phoenix, Arizona, and the twins of the home, Nadine L. and Nolan E. Worden. Ten grandchildren and three sisters, Myra Johnson, Bronson, Ethel Gerdsen, Uniontown, Zaida Ross, Bayard, and a step-sister Maud Culler, Long Beach, California.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, a sister, May Tally, three brothers, Bert, George, john, his step-mother, Blanche, a setp-sister Mae Nickols and two step-brothers, Senix and Riley McKinney.
Funeral Services were held january 5, 1974 with burial in Mountain View Memorial Park at Tacoma. He enlisted in the Army January 2, 1939 at Fort George Wright, Spokane, and was discharged October 3, 1945 at Fort Louis. He received the following decorations and citations: European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, American Defence Service medal, and Good Conduct Medal.
He served with the 685th General Hospital on a surgical dressing team in a field hospital during the Normandy Invasion. He was a member of the Edward Rhodes Post 2 of the American Legion.
Taken from his scrapbook:
Lefty Worden, who holds the rank of sergeant, was a successful pitcher in civilian life before joining the army. Among the team whose livery he wore were Seattle of the Pacific Coast League, Kansas City of the American Association, and Joplin. He also played with the Montreal team and with the Sons of Italy.
He was star pitcher for the "medics" of Fort Louis. A gold trophy, almost as large as a milk can, went to the Medics in the finals of the Post baseball tournament. Lefty Worden had too much crooked stuff, especially a puzzling sinker in the pinches. In the second and third innings, Worden fanned five men in succession.
Lefty Worden, who has won a big majority of the 25 games he's worked this season, was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals and farmed to Pittsburg, Kansas. Worden throws a fork ball with excellent control.
Ed "Lefty" Worden, star pitcher for the McCaw General hospital team, Walla Walla, has been lost to the squad for an indefinite period, due to illness. Worden's spectacular twirling has been a major item in the current record of the hospital team which leads the Victory League with a mark of 6 wins and no defeats.
