Tedford (Ted) George Andrews, Jr. passed away at home in Seguin, TX on June 21, 2015 at the age of 83. Ted was born in Des Moines, IA on February 18, 1932 to Tedford George Andrews, Sr. and Neva Brock Andrews. He graduated from Cherokee (IA) High School in 1950 and immediately enlisted in the Air Force and served in the Korean War. He married his high school sweetheart, Jo Ann Brown Andrews, in 1951. Following his military service, he graduated from the University of Iowa in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering. Ted parlayed his love of planes into a career in airplane design for a variety of major aeronautical companies including Douglas Aircraft, North American Rockwell, Lockheed, and Boeing. While working for these companies, he began designing, building and flying radio controlled model airplanes. He enjoyed his model airplanes for 60 years.
In the mid 1960's, Ted began a lifelong love of sailing. He owned and raced numerous boats in lakes and oceans. The engineer and the sailor merged into a new career for Ted as he became a pioneer in developing digital instrumentation for sailboat navigation instruments. He launched his own sailboat instrument company, Andrews Instruments, in 1969. The company was so successful that it was purchased by NARCO in 1972, and relocated to Houston, Texas. He eventually came back to his aviation roots and returned to Boeing in Seattle in 1987. Ted and Jo Ann retired in Langley, WA on Whidbey Island in 2001. They finally came back to Texas, moving to Seguin in 2013.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John Andrews, and his daughter, Susan Andrews Fisher. He is survived by his wife Jo Ann, his son Mike Andrews and wife Candi of Seguin, son in law Jerry Fisher of League City, TX, and grandchildren Jonathan Andrews of Los Angeles, CA, Samantha Andrews of Spring, TX, Patrick Fisher of Ft. Riley, KS, and Payton Fisher of League City, TX. Ted will be remembered as a loving, caring, and active person always trying new adventures with a great deadpan sense of humor. He was a model of how to be a husband, father, and grandfather. He will be missed by all. Memorial contributions may be made to GRMC Hospice Services, 1215 E. Court St., Seguin, TX 78155 or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675. Services will be held at a later date in Cherokee, Iowa.