Oldest child of John and Minnie Lecher Bessler, Ed was born at home on the family farm in Ray Township, Franklin County, Indiana. He went to school at the Placke Schoolhouse which enabled him to get home more quickly than his siblings who attended classes in Enochsburg, so that he could help his dad in the fields.

Ed was rather quiet serious person and kept to himself in his free time. Always good with his hands, Ed's one great passion was machinery. He was always tinkering with the farm machinery and was the first one in the family to own a car, which he bought second hand and fixed up. His first job after graduating from the eighth grade was as a mechanic.

He met a petite blond named Geraldine Marie Ritzi whose father was a jeweler in Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana. They married in Brookville at St. Michael's Catholic Church on 26 Jun 1937. Their happiness was short lived however. She died from complications from diabetes and kidney disease in April of 1939 shortly after the birth of their daughter, Margery.

Ed was devastated at the death of his wife and enlisted the help of his mom in the care of his baby daughter. To ease her workload, Ed arranged for electricity to be installed at the farm so they could have an electric washer and stove to help with the baby's needs.

WWII broke out in Dec 1941 and Ed enlisted in the Navy, going to Great Lakes Training Center in Illinois. From there he was assigned to a brand new Navajo class tug, USS Nauset (AT-89), as a crew member earning the rank of Motor Machinist Mate 1st Class.

After several trips on the Mediterranean Sea, the Nauset went to lend assistance during the Battle of Salerno, Italy. During the morning of 9 Sept 1943 while helping with the landings at Salerno, the Nauset was attacked from the air by German machine guns and later struck a mine-- action in which the ship was lost. Ed's body was never recovered.

On 10 Sept 1944, a year and a day after his disappearance, Ed was declared legally dead and received the Purple Heart for his sacrifice at sea. His daughter was raised by her grandparents.