Elias Charles Edwards
June 16, 2013
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Elias (Charles) Edwards, of Asheville, passed away on June 16th, 2013, at Aston Park Health Care Center. He had gallantly fought a five year battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Charles was born in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, and had resided in Buncombe County over fifty years. He attended Appalachian State University and Wofford College. He was a member of Oakley United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir.
Charles loved fishing, especially with his grandson. He also enjoyed having tea parties with his granddaughter when she was a toddler. Before his illness his greatest pleasure was spending time with his family.
He was a veteran of the Korean War, and served thirty years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. He was a dedicated and loyal soldier and received many commendations. After retiring from the army, he was employed in real estate for ten years.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Elias Carl and Mabel Barber Edwards. Charles is survived by his wife, Margaret Coward Edwards; daughter, Melinda Edwards Bowers and husband Dean of Albemarle; grandchildren Graham and Madeline Bowers also of Albemarle, NC; and sister, Linda Jennings of West Asheville.
A celebration of Charles' life will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. at Oakley United Methodist Church, with the Revs. Russ and Kathy Pierce and Chaplain Garland Vance officiating. Interment will follow at the Western Carolina State Veteran's Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Flowers are acceptable and appreciated. Memorials may also be made in Charles' memory to Oakley United Methodist Church, 607 Fairview Rd., Asheville, NC 28803.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Aston Park Health Care Center and CarePartners Adult Day Care for the kindness and care shown Charles.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.
Margaret and Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time.
Love, Mark and Candie Sellers
Margaret, I pray that God will hold you and your family close during this trying time. Charles has reached a place of new-found knowledge and peace.. He is probably already singing in God’s choir!
Mrs. Bowers and family,
My thoughts and prayers are surrounding you during this difficult time. May you cherished memories bring you comfort and peace in the coming days. Respectfully, Tanya C Crisco
So sorry to hear about Charles. I really enjoyed him at Adult Day.My prayers are with all of you.
Please know that I love and care about you and I wish I could be there for you. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am truly saddened to hear of Charles’ passing! My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time! I had the honor of knowing Charles during my years with the U.S. Army’s Co. A 391st Engineers. I remember Charles as a very fair, honest, thorough and professional man, someone who was easy to look up to, an excellent role model! May God be with you!
May the God of peace and comfort be with the Edwards Family during your time of bereavement.May this scripture at Matthew 5:5 be uplifting to you. ‘Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.’
Margaret and family, I am very heartbroken for all of you in the loss of your dear loved one. Margaret, I will always remember all the loving things you have said about Charles and I know that those memories will live in your heart forever.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Margaret, Thinking of you and your family during this time. Your sweet Charles is in paradise now, the suffering is over. Take comfort in knowing that he is singing in that heavenly choir and you will see him again.
I am praying for God’s grace to be with you during the coming days. Charles was an inspiration to all who knew him.
Prayers are with you and your family Margaret! What wonderful memories you have of Charles – and the ones that worked at Sayles with him. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers -Bobbie, June and Linda!
Sorry to hear of your husbands death. My love & prayers are with you & your family.
I am so sorry to hear about Charles. It was such a blessing when the two of you were newly weds and moved in across the street from us in Oakley.
You all were always so sweet to let Pam and me come and visit all the time and you took us to school so many mornings. We thought the sun rose and set in you and Charles.
I’ve never met your daughter but she has to be a great person to have had you and Charles as parents.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. May God bless and comfort you and your family.
I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Charles. I worked with him at Coldwell Banker in the mid 90’s. He was a very respectful and interesting person, a true gentleman. I pray the Lord will comfort you during this sad time.
to margaret and family you have my deepest sympathies. My mom thought alot of you and charles, especially the cards y’all sent her over the years. charlie was a good soldier and took care of alot of us while he was with us in the 1st/518th as our unit admistrator.
Margaret, you have my deepest sympathy. Know that you are being held in God’s love. I am so glad that I got to meet Charles and have a small moment with both of you last week. So grateful that Russ is able to officiate today and sorry I can’t be there. Peace to you.
I am very sorry to hear about your husband. I know he will be greatly missed. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. Sincerely,
Debra Proffitt
My thoughts and prayers are with MSG Edward’s family and friends. He was a great person, friend and mentor to all those he ‘looked after’ in the 1/518th. He will be sorely missed.
Margaret,
So sorry to read about Charles in the paper.I think of you often and hope that my sister Debbie, you and I can get together and talk about old times in education and sewing classes thru Mars Hill College. If you would like, call me sometime. My phone # is 298-7772. Peace and love to you and Mindy. Linda Hines
Margaret, our thoughts and prayers are with you.