Edwin Anthony Dokus, age 88 passed away peacefully on May 11, 2020. Born in Newark NJ, Edwin was one of 8 children. After serving in the Korean war, he used the GI Bill to enter the Newark College of Engineering, where he majored in Electrical Engineering. Shortly thereafter, he met his wife Theresa Mangan and started their family. In 1967 they moved the family to Winchester Massachusetts where they set roots. It was here where he discovered his passion of aviation and became a small plane pilot. It wasn’t enough to fly planes. He also needed to build them and was still working on a Bi plane called a Durand Mark V in his workshop until age 87. He completed several planes and had to test fly the planes he built. He called it the most thrilling time of his life when it came to the test flying a plane he built. He would taxi down the runway 10 to 20 times, each time going up 1 foot off the runway and then landing and circling back to the beginning of the runway, until finally he gained enough confidence to go full throttle, pull the nose up, and ultimately commit to flying beyond at runway that ended and was diminishing behind him.
He was also a member of chapter 106 of the Experimental Aircraft association. He was later voted president of this organization. During his tenure as president, he proposed building a Hangar to house planes to charge rent and to have a common meeting area at Lawrence Airport for chapter members to congregate. This was not an easy accomplishment and demonstrated his biggest strength. His will to complete any task.
Edwin is survived by his wife Theresa Dokus and 3 children Ronald Dokus and his wife Judi of Littleton, Margaret Curran and her husband Jay Curran of Duxbury and Maureen McGurl and her husband Bill Mcgurl of Burlington. He is also survived by grandchildren Alexandra Dokus, Samantha Dokus, Kyle Dokus, Teagan Curran, Delaney McGurl, Kylie McGurl and Kelsey McGurl.
He is also survived by his latest plane, the Durand Mark V.
Edwin will be laid to rest at Wildwood Cemetery in Winchester on May 14th. A celebration of his life and accomplishments will follow once the pandemic subsides.
In lieu of Flowers, donations made in Edwin”s memory can be made to Smile train. www.smiletrain.org/donate.