Dean Leslie Edwards

December 2, 1933 - February 26, 2018

Dean L. Edwards, 84, passed away suddenly at home on February 26, 2018. He was preceded in death by his wife Katharine "Kitty" Edwards. Dean was a San Diego native, the only child of Gail D. and Martha A. Edwards, and a 1952 graduate of San Diego High School.

Dean matriculated at the University of California at Berkeley in fall 1952. He later transferred to what is now San Diego State University, where he pledged Kappa Sigma and in 1954 became a brother in their Epsilon Iota chapter. He married Kitty at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church in 1955 and by 1957 they were in Augusta, GA while Dean served in the Army and Kitty tended to their newborn and eldest son, Philip. When they moved back to San Diego, Dean finished his undergraduate business degree and quickly became a part of the family business, then known as Admiral Sales Co.

Dean's participation in the growth (and renaming) of Admiral Exchange Co., Inc., a wholesale distributor and manufacturer's representative firm specializing in sales to military commands and Exchanges, included a great deal of overseas travel to the Pacific military markets. He logged extensive air miles as he visited base Exchange buyers in the Philippines, Vietnam, Guam, Okinawa, Japan, and Hawaii as well as a great portion of the Western United States. In the early 1960's, he & Kitty moved to Honolulu, HI to open a branch office for the company and in 1961 they happily welcomed their second son, Douglas, into the Edwards family. Once that location was operating solidly, he & Kitty and the boys moved back to San Diego and their daughter, Cathleen, was born there in 1966.

In 1972, the family moved to La Jolla and that became their permanent home although Hawaii remained in their hearts. Dean, promoted to company President along the way, steered the company into a broader presence in the Navy ship's store business, a new branch office in San Leandro, CA, the Hawaii retail souvenir markets for Zippo Manufacturing Company, and eventually into foodservice business with the state of California Corrections facilities. His children all went off to attend and graduate various universities and the net result was Dean's shift in his sports allegiances to USC football and Duke basketball. Much time was spent tailgating at USC football games and later watching Duke's basketball team rise to national prominence (and West Coast TV coverage). Somewhere in the late 1970’s, the Reyn Spooner aloha shirt became his daily wear and remained a wardrobe favorite for the rest of his life.

Dean was generally a quiet man, who enjoyed reading as well as current events and classic movies & music, but was affable and talkative once engaged. He always had a story to tell and would lend an ear to listen to your tale. He was exceptionally proud of his children and grandchildren and would share their successes with anyone who would listen. Dean is survived by three grown children, son Philip Dean Edwards and his wife, Cheronne, son Douglas Alan Edwards and his wife Cindy, and daughter Cathleen Glenn Edwards; two grandchildren, Daniel Edwards & Jessica Edwards; four step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.

Interment will be private and an "aloha" event will be held by invitation (contact family for information) in La Jolla. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Heart Association or the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute.