William R. Edwards

EDWARDS, William R. (Bill) – of Grand Blanc, age 84, passed away Saturday, December 18, 2010 at Genesys Health Park. Cremation has taken place, there will be a celebration of William’s life held 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2011 at Hill Funeral Home, 11723 S. Saginaw Street, Grand Blanc, MI with Hank Messing officiating. Inurnment with military honors follows at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Bill was born August 26, 1926 in Lorain, Ohio. He served during World War II in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Edwards graduated from The Ohio State University with a undergraduate and Master’s Degree in Ceramic Engineering. William married Jacqualyn Burton in 1951 and moved to Davison, Michigan, later settling in Grand Blanc to start his family. He began his career with General Motors, AC Spark Plug Division in 1953, retiring in 1990 as Chief Engineer. He was awarded a patent for new spark plug technology in 1962. Bill played basketball at OSU, while in the Navy and in Flint city leagues. Mr. Edwards was preceded in death by: his wife of 56 years, Jacqualyn (Burton) Edwards; his parents, Florene and Rudolph Edwards; sisters, Darlene Hawk and Joan Pawloski; brother, Richard Edwards. Surviving are: brother, Robert (Carol) Edwards of Lorain, Ohio; children, Lynn Ann Edwards Wylie and husband Brian of Denver, Colorado, Donald Thomas Edwards and wife Theresa (Conquest) Edwards of Sparta, Michigan and Jean Marie Edwards Rosser and husband David of Brighton, Michigan; grandchildren, Erin Wylie of Chicago, Steven and Kevin Wylie both of Denver, Sarah and Colin Rosser both of Brighton. William was a devoted father and grandfather, he will be sadly missed by all. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association. Condolences may be shared with the family at hillfh.com.