Roger D. “Thrift” Edwards, 69, of Van Buren, passed away Friday, October 26, 2018 in Fort Smith. He was born December 24, 1948 in Mulberry to Ethel Brown Thrift and G.D. “Cotton” Edwards. Dale graduated from Alma High School in 1966, and spent his adult life in Van Buren with his wife of 35 years, Margaret Edwards, and their loving dog, Jake. He was retired from FedEx and Service Compression. He was preceded in death by G.D. Edwards, Wilburn Thrift, Angela Kay Edwards, Anthony “Tony” Edwards, and Deborah Johnston-Gaston.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Edwards of the home; a daughter, Casey Janes and husband Shawn of Fort Smith; three sons, Scott Edwards of Fort Smith; Roger Edwards, Jr. and wife Jane of Illinois, and Terry Sampley and wife Sokunna of Van Buren; his mother, Ethel Brown Thrift of Alma; two sisters, Betty Owings and Carmen Hensley, both of Alma; three brothers, George Renfro of Mulberry, and David Thrift and Doug Thrift, both of Alma; twelve grandchildren, Taylor Edwards and Bobby Edwards of Fort Smith, Dora Flanagan of Alma, Kyla Edwards of Mulberry, Dalana McGehee, Breanna McGehee, and Peyton McGehee, all of Muldrow, Gavin Edwards and Carmen Edwards of Illinois, Crystal Maxwell of Pennsylvania, Natalie Johnston of Oklahoma City, and Haley Johnston of Kansas; and three great-grandsons.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, October 29, 2018 at the Concord Baptist Church led by Pastor Tom Smith with interment to follow at Pope Cemetery near the Graphic Community, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, AR.
Pallbearers will be Bill Brown, Jr., Andrew Moore, Steve Skelton, Norman Nunley, Allen Nordin, and Glenn Nordin.
The family will visit with friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 28, 2018, at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren, AR.
