Louie Lavon Edwards

Lou Edwards, age 96, passed away on November 19, 2025, in Tampa, Florida, where he has resided since 2018. He was born on November 3, 1929, in Coffeyville, Kansas. Lou was married to Louise Englund Edwards from 1963 until her death in 1993.

Lou served in the United States Marine Corps from 1948 until 1952, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant while serving on the USS Boxer as an administrative clerk. He and his unit participated in operations against the North Korean aggression, Inchon Landing, and the Communist China aggression. At the conclusion of his military service, he attended the University of Tulsa on the GI Bill, where he graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in marketing.

His early career led him to Brunswick, Ga, where he managed the local Dr Pepper bottling plant. In 1962, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he began his career selling life insurance with Prudential. He continued as a Certified Life Underwriter (CLU) until his retirement in the mid-90s. In the 1970s, he joined the Jacksonville Optimist Club, which later turned into a breakfast club meeting weekly until he left Jacksonville. Lou attended Southside United Methodist Church.

Lou is survived by his son Rob (wife Holly), his stepchildren Laura (husband Ed), Carl, and Linda (husband Steve). He also leaves behind 9 grandchildren, Ross, Sadie, Marcy, Richard, Timothy, Megan, Jason, Jonathan, Christine, and 11 great-grandchildren, Cheyenne, Jamison, Alaynah, Landon, Jackson, Perry, William, Kaley, Rebekah, Eli, and Oakley. He is also survived by his faithful companion and loving friend, Anne.

Lou’s interment will take place at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.