Robert Edwards

Robert Matthew Edwards, 78, of Lubbock, Texas, passed away on December 12, 2010. Robert was a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer with 20 years of active duty, and was also retired from the U.S. Treasury Department, as Deputy Director, Washington Financial Center, Washington, D.C.

Robert was born in Humansville, Missouri, on February 27, 1932, to Carl Matthew Edwards and Opal Armintia (Kindle) Edwards. He graduated high school in Boonville, Missouri, and spent a short time in Northeast Missouri State College before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1950.

Following Navy training and schooling at San Diego, California, in 1951, he was assigned to the USS Marion County (LST-975), which was immediately deployed to the Korean War area and operated for many months in combat zones. While on duty with the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon in 1954, Robert met Patricia Ann French. They were married in June 1955 in Camp Springs, Maryland.

Mr. Edwards and family were stationed in Naples, Italy, and Tokyo, Japan. He also had duty on five ships in both the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. He had two tours of duty with the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon Building in Washington, D.C. During the Korean War, Mr. Edwards was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the United Nations Korean Service Medal, the ROK Korean Service Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the Silver Star, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

He is preceded in death by his parents and infant son, Steven Matthew Edwards. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Patricia Ann (French) Edwards, two daughters, Tracy Ann Fletcher and husband Michael of Prince Frederick, Maryland, and Lisa Carole Bradley and husband Robert of Lubbock, and four grandchildren, Matthew and Laura Fletcher of Maryland and Ethan and Logan Bradley of Lubbock.

Interment with Military Honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.