Ed was born 14 Sep 1913 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah to Edward T. Saunders and Marcia Ann Slater Saunders, the first of twelve children. J. Edward was a grandson of James Alma Slater and Mary Elizabeth Allred who was the daughter of John Allen Allred & Mary Jane Knight. John Allen was the son of Isaac Alked & Julia Ann Taylor.

He married Sarah Erma Read 14 Sep 1934. Ed moved his young family from Ogden to Redondo Beach, CA to work for Douglas Aircraft. He moved back to Ogden when he retired in 1976.

After the death of his wife Erma in 1983, Ed married Leone Hilton in 1993, but they were later divorced.

Ed died 16 Aug 2000. He was survived by three daughters, 2 sons, 23 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren. Burial was in the Ogden City Cemetery 21 Aug 2000.