Edward Wesley Nidever

West Point, 1955

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by West Point 1955 on April 7, 2014:

Edward Wesley Nidever Edward Wesley Nidever, West Point Graduate, soldier, loving father, grandfather and friend of many in the National Capital Region, passed away of heart failure on Monday, March 31, 2014 at INOVA Loudon Hospital Cornwall in Leesburg. Born on November 28, 1932, in Fresno, California, he came east with a Congressional appointment to join the US Corps of Cadets at the Military Academy in 1951. Four years later, he received his diploma from President Dwight D. Eisenhower along with 469 of his fellow members of the Class of 1955. Commissioned Infantry, he underwent Airborne and Ranger training, served with the 3d Infantry Division at Fort Benning, GA, and later became an instructor in the Airborne and Ranger Schools, receiving his Master Parachutist's Wings. As a young Captain, he later deployed to serve with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea and shortly thereafter on to Vietnam in 1961. On a night patrol from an outpost near Saigon, he was wounded by enemy fire and awarded the Purple Heart, also receiving the coveted Combat Infantry Badge. In 1971, almost ten years later, Ed's younger brother, Major David Nidever, USMA Class of 1958, lost his life in Vietnam. After a decade in uniform and service in the Army Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, NC, 1963-65, he entered the business world as a real estate broker in Atlanta, GA, handling major investment properties across four states. The call of Federal Service in 1980 brought him to the nation's capital where he worked for the next 20 years with increasing levels of responsibility in the FHA, Naval Facilities Command and the DOD Federal Housing Office in the Pentagon. During this time, he also earned a PhD in Public Administration, adding to his academic credentials earned upon graduation from the Military Academy. His wife, Carolyn, predeceased Edward in 2004, and he is today survived by his children, Lisa (Ken) Williams of Castle Pines, Colorado, Edward Jr., graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy, now residing in Atlanta, GA, and Karen (Britt) Triplett of Leesburg, VA, eight grandchildren, Mathew, David, Wesley, Brooke, Beth, Blake, Beau and Luke, and his devoted friend and neighbor, Jane Burns, of Leesburg, VA. A truly unique person in so many ways, his smile was a ray of sunshine to all those with whom he interacted. His warm heart and giving ways were constantly evident in his perpetual optimism and friendliness. His sense of humor brought smiles to those around him, and was always on display. He will be forever remembered for these wonderful qualities, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

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