Military honors and burial are planned in April at Arlington National Cemetery for retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Paul K. Edrington, 80, of Punta Gorda, Fla., who died Feb. 3.

Born Dec. 21, 1930, in Spurgeon, he graduated from high school in 1948 and enlisted in the Air Force, serving as a radio operator in the Berlin airlift, as a cryptologist and communications specialist and instructor.

In 1955, he married Velta Anne Manning, and earned a degree in teaching before beginning a career in teaching history and English.

He was called back to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis and worked in the Air Logistics Command, retiring from 37 years active duty in 1985 after service in Pakistan, Thailand, Germany and Libya.

In retirement he moved to Punta Gorda, where he was a Rotarian.

Surviving are his wife Anne, two sons, Greg and Robert, a daughter-in-law, Melissa, five grandchildren, two brothers, Don and Carroll, and a sister, Margaret.