Harold Edward Pinson

Harold Edward “Eddie” Pinson was born on October 20, 1939 in Preston, Idaho. He was an only child born to Charles Harold Pinson and Roma Barnett.

His first five years were spent in Preston, ID, then the adventure began. Then it was off to school in Las Vegas, NV, American Falls, ID, Salt Lake City, UT, McCammon, ID, Pocatello, ID, and Boise, ID. Some cities twice. Eddie did the 2nd grade in American Falls, Salt Lake City, McCammon, and Boise, Idaho. Boise being the last school adventures. He was able to finish Junior High and through the 11th grade in Boise. One of Eddie’s major achievements was getting his High School Diploma through the G.I. Bill in 1976 after retiring from the U.S. Navy. The High School Diploma was from Santa Ana High School in Santa Ana, CA. Eddie has considered himself a graduate of Boise High School all these years. He has worked with the Class of ’57 reunion committee since the 20th reunion in 1977.

It was October 23, 1956 that Eddie and several of his friends went to join the U.S. Navy and see the world. Eddie’s first assignment out of recruit training in San Diego, CA was the USS Butternut (AN-9) home ported in Long Beach, CA. He spent four years on board and this is where he met Terrell Ann Rusk, his wife of 60+ years, on a boat going to Catalina Island on July 5, 1958. They were married on March 26, 1960. The USS Butternut (AN-9) worked with the Polaris Missile Project off San Clemente Island. Great duty aboard the Butternut.

From Long Beach, CA, Eddie and Terrell went with the Navy to San Jose, CA and Salt Lake City, UT. From Salt Lake City Eddie went to Saigon, Vietnam, for a year in-country as an Advisor to the Vietnamese Navy. The worst part of that tour of duty was going through survival training school in Southern California prior to leaving the States. Back to the States in March 1964, and they were ordered to Portland, OR. He went aboard the USS McGinty (DE-365) for a year and then downtown Portland for his real first taste of Navy recruiting duty. This is where their daughter, Terrie Lynn Pinson (Reingold) was born on February 28, 1965 at the U.S. Air Force Base. From Portland recruiting duty, it was off to San Francisco (Treasure Island/Yerba Buena Island) to finish out recruiting duty in March 1970. Eddie had some extra time while on recruiting duty in this area so he acquired a California real estate license that he put to use for the rest of his Naval Career. They bought their first little home in East Oakland, CA right next to the U.S. Naval Hospital. From Oakland, it was off to Santa Ana, CA where Eddie went back out on San Clemente Island for a two year tour flying back and forth to work and then on board the USS Hooper (DE-1026), home ported in Long Beach, CA. He did his last four years in the U.S. Navy working out of the U.S. Naval Air Station, Miramar, in San Diego, CA as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor for the Navy. Eddie retired from the U.S. Navy on March 1, 1976 at the age of 36. Eddie was also a member of the Vets of Foreign Wars (VFW), Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Disabled American Vets (DAV), and the American Legion (AL). In 2013, Eddie was diagnosed with Ischemic Heart Disease and diagnosed 100% disabled by the VA.

It was a trip to Boise, ID (Boise High School Reunion), in the summer of 1977 that made it possible for the Pinson family to move to Boise. It was an old and dear friend that offered Eddie a job as a Purchasing Agent at a local sign company. It only took moments for the Pinson’s to make the move. Eddie’s California real estate license came in very handy.

The move was made and they have been in Boise, ID ever since. While in Boise, Eddie worked as a Purchasing Agent at the local sign company Image National. Fed the guys on Death Row at the Joint for a year and was an Ada County Deputy Sheriff and did some shipping and receiving for Missman Electric until retiring in August 1999. A real switch for Eddie is that they have lived in the same home and location for the past 47+ years.

It was in 1971, while living in Santa Ana, CA that Eddie bought his first motorcycle. He has owned a motorcycle ever since. Rode Honda Goldwings for years but now the love of his motorbikes is a 2003 Harley Davidson Road King Classic. At the age of 63, this should have been his last new purchase. Well, at the age of 75 he purchased a 2013 Harley TriGlide Trike.

The other new and most important addition to the family is a grandson, Adam Benjamin Reingold. He was born August 11, 2000.

The family owes a special thanks to Dr. Colen Lee and Dr. Andrew Forbs for performing the 6-way bypass that he had on November 1, 2000, the pacemaker in 2010, and again in 2016 by Dr. Undesser.

In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to the Fleet Reserve Association Education Foundation. Make the check payable to: Fleet Reserve Association Education Foundation, with the memo "honoring Eddie Pinson". Mail the check to: FRA Education Foundation, Attn: Steve Cox, 8943 Quarry Rd., Manassas, VA 20110.

Funeral Services will be held on December 11, 2020 at the Cloverdale Funeral Home. Due to COVID guidelines, space is limited. The service will be webcast live. If you would like a link to the webcast, call Cloverdale Funeral Home at 208-375-2212 and provide a name and email.