10/13/2025
Edwin Glen "Junior" Newcom, Jr., age 60 of Decatur, AL passed away Saturday, October 11, 2025, in Decatur, AL. Parkway Funeral Home assisted his family with local arrangements. Guestbook available at www.parkwayfunerals.com and Collier Funeral Home website.
Born Tuesday, October 20, 1964, in Benton, KY, he was the son of the late Edwin Glen Newcom, Sr. and the late Sylvia Sue Newcom.
Edwin joined the Marine Corps the same month he graduated high school in June 1982..
While serving in Beirut, Lebanon in October, 1983, Edwin was hit with a rocket propelled grenated "RPG" that almost ended his life. He spent his nineteenth birthday in a coma. He was determined to continue his active duty as a Marine, so he was't going to let some serious injuries hold him back. He went on to serve twelve more years and medically retired in February, 1995, due to the injuries sustained in Beirut, Lebanon.
While serving as a Marine, he climbed the ladder in ranks and received many decorations, medals, badges, campaign ribbons, Purple Heart, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal w/3 Stars, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Sea service, Deployment Ribbon w/3 stars, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Rifle Expert Badge, and Pistol Sharpshooter badge, just to name a few. He was most proud of his Purple Heart medal because it almost cost him his life to receive it.
You can find all the details of Edwin's experience in Beirut, Lebanon in the book, "The Root." The Marines in Beirut by Eric Hammel.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, Edwin went on to pursue a career in the steel business. He worked as a second shift supervisor at TBI Steel in Paducah, KY. Then became a supervisor at JMS in Paducah, KY. He went on to be an Operations Manager at JMS Russel Metals Corp. in Decatur, AL. The last eleven years were spent residing in Decatur, AL working as an OPS Manager, something he greatly loved. He loved his employees, his colleagues, and greatlyloved the job itself.
He also took a small break from the steel business in 2009, and was a peace officer from 2009 to 2013 at Marshall County Detention Center in Benton, KY. But he loved the steel business and opted to go back to Decatur, AL and do something he loved, being an operations manager.
Surviving are his wife, Ashley (Isaacs) Newcom of Decatur, AL; son, Kevin Newcom (Jessica) of Athens, AL; daughter, Brooke Newcom of Uniontown, KY: and two grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters and one brother.
Edwin loved his family fiercely and enjoyed spending as much time with his wife as work life permitted. He enjoyed coming home everyday from work, just to be able to eat lunch with her. They ate lunch everyday together. He loved her immeasurably.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Sylvia Newcom; in-laws, Mary J. Curtis Isaacs and Jesse Pullen; and his precious dog of eighteen years, Princess.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Collier Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Marshall County Memory Gardens, Benton, KY.
The family will receive friends on Friday, October 17, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Collier Funeral Home, 221 West 5th Street, Benton, KY 42025.
