George Edwards Jr.

George Edwards, Jr., age 89, went to be with the Lord on 7th day of December, 2017 while in residence at Episcopal Church Home. Born in Newellton, Louisiana in 1928, he lived most of his adult life in the near south end of Louisville. His birthday was initially celebrated on July 14 but birth records were believed to be in error and that date was changed to July 21 in recent years. George was the son of George, Sr. and Myrtle (Atwell) Edwards of Brookport, Illinois. He was one of six children including, Curtis, Mary, Harry, Dorothy, and Wayne Edwards. George served in the Marine Corps as an aircraft mechanic at the Air Station in Cherry Point, North Carolina from 1946 to 1948. He married Fay (Brown) Edwards of Louisville in February of 1950 and remained married until Fay’s death in 2014. George and Fay had three sons, Kenneth Wayne Edwards, Robert Bruce Edwards and Thomas Layton Edwards, all graduates of Iroquois High School in Louisville.

George was a certified master plumber, working initially for the James E. Smith Company before leaving to work as a pipefitter for the B.F. Goodrich plant for 10 years. He is credited with a patent for a “bubble cap”, a pipefitting device. He returned to the Smith Company until retiring in 1986.

George was a dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather. George and Fay were members of Beechmont Methodist Church in Louisville. The family remembers numerous camping trips in Kentucky where his sons learned boating and water-skiing. He was a familiar voice in the grandstands at Iroquois High stadium and along cross-country paths and gymnastics meets in support of his son’s athletic pursuits. That support continued with his grandchildren by attending their college cross-country meets.

He was a veteran blood platelets donor and familiar face at the American Red Cross.

George was personable and loved nothing more than his family. He was known for his enduring hugs that often extended to friends of family members. It was said he would make friends wherever he was, finding time to sit and chat with a circle of friends at a south-end McDonald’s restaurant or along a sea wall in Scotland. He was a much-loved resident at Episcopal Church Home, never missing an opportunity to extend a wave and a smile, or a hug to employees and residents.

George is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law including Ken and Angie Edwards of Clarksville, Tennessee, Bruce and Susan Edwards of Grand Blanc, Michigan, and Tom and Patty Stephens Edwards of Richmond; grand-children Cory Edwards (Natalie Hoyt) of Columbus, Ohio; Christopher Edwards (Christina) of Louisville; Ashley Peters (Brandon) of Wilmington, North Carolina; Matthew Edwards (Ashley) of Rockford, Michigan; Nathan Edwards (Alissa) of Mooreland, Indiana; Kelly Gries (Jon) of East Lansing, Michigan; Lindsey Edwards of Palm Springs, California; Emily Horn (Shane) of Richmond, Kentucky. He also leaves eleven great-grandchildren and numerous additional step grandchildren, step great-grand children and great-great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, January 13, 2018 at Arch L. Heady & Son at Westport Village, 7410 Westport Rd. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of the service on Saturday at the funeral home.

Arrangements under the direction of Arch L. Heady and Son at Westport Village, Louisville, Kentucky.