William Boren Edwards
February 14, 1925 ~ January 2, 2010
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
William Boren Edwards, 84, of Asheville, died on Saturday, January 2, 2010, at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center.
A native of Buncombe County, he was the son of the late Otho and Eulalia Edwards Edwards.
Mr. Edwards received a Mechanical Engineering degree from North Carolina State University. He then briefly worked for DuPont in Delaware and Pisgah Forest. Mr. Edwards eventually worked at Milton Fixture Co., which he later purchased and renamed Edwards Equipment Co.
Mr. Edwards was an Eagle Scout, and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed his time at Lake Jocassee. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving during WWII, and was active at Grace Baptist Church.
Mr. Edwards is survived by his wife, Betty Jo Kiser Edwards; sons, Ron Edwards and wife Diana, Larry Edwards and wife Yvonne, and Tim Edwards and wife Margie; grandchildren, Matthew Edwards and wife Glenda, Lauren Edwards, Brad Edwards and wife Tiffany, Josh Edwards and wife Angie, and Daniel Edwards and wife Danielle; great-grandchildren, Olivia, Eleanor, and Andrew Edwards; and two nieces, Janice and Anita Edwards.
A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at Grace Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Baird officiating.
His family will receive friends following the service at church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, 718 Haywood Rd., Asheville, NC 28806, or to CarePartners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.
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Betty Jo and Family, We were distressed to hear about Bill. From our days together at Lee Edwards we have always considered him a special friend and we have missed you two at our recent Class of 43 functions.
Regardless of age, health, or any other circumstance in life we are never ready to give up our loved ones. The only comfort has to come from our Faith in the Sovereignty of God and the manifested concern of caring friends. Please know we are thinking of you and will hold you in our prayers. I am confident that ‘Wee Willie’ is now on the other side of the Verge of Jordan near that Throne of Grace making intercession for those of us still here and waiting too to welcome all of us home with open arms. We just hope in some small way it does help to know others do care. Joe and Zunita Clark
Betty Jo, our prayers and thoughts are with you during this time of your loss. Remember God loves you and so do we.
Charlie & Helen Riddle Cordell
To all of you,
We just wanted to let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. God is faithful to be ‘El Shaddai’ (God of Comfort) during this time. Rest in the peace and perfect knowledge that today Mr. Edwards is in the presence of the Lord, praising Him, with as much zeal and life as he possessed on earth!
I will always remember how nice and kind Mr. Edwards was. I worked at American Bearings(Moffatt Bearings) and was his neighbor on Church St. for many years. Cherish the memories that you have of him.
Betty.
You’re in my thoughts and in my prayers. With love, Betty
Betty Jo,
I am so sorry to learn of Bill’s passing. I can remember the many times we met somewhere, whether it was in Asheville or in Raleigh at NC State. So many of our class are gone now. Remember all the good memories you have had of Bill for so many years. It is hard to be down
here in Charleston when something like this happens. I don’t do much traveling anymore. Please accept my condolences.
Betty Jo, Ronnie, Larry, and Tim: Emelie and I are very sad to hear of Bill’s passing. We can never forget the kindness shown by you and Bill during my career with Edwards Equipment. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers during this sad time. If there is anything you need or we can do, please let us know. Cherish the memories! Love, Ronnie and Emelie
Betty Jo, Ronnie, Larry, and Tim: Emelie and I are very sad to hear of Bill’s passing. We can never forget the kindness shown by you and Bill during my career with Edwards Equipment. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers during this sad time. If there is anything you need or we can do, please let us know. Cherish the memories! Love, Ronnie and Emelie
Betty Jo and Family, My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time for God’s love and strength to embrace each of you daily. We will miss Bill in our church family.
Sorry to hear about Bill. He was a good friend, as are all the members of the group, that still meets once a month. I’ll be unable to attend the memorial, as I have an appointment that I must keep, at the same time.
May the Lord be with you during these days, and afterward.
Betty Jo & family, we will miss our dear friend Bill but we will keep his memory in our hearts forever. We loved him very much. What an awesome God we have knowing Bill is with him. Bill & De Ann
Betty Jo and family,
My condolences to all of you.
I know how hard it is to loose someone you love. Just know that he is in a better place and all of us will see him again.
My fondness memories of Bill was that he taught me how to ride a horse, handle them, and care for them. I remember playing with his white lab Ginger and watching his pigeons tumble in the sky.
Those pigeons were cool!
I remember Bill bringing over Matt and swimming in Granddad’s pool. If I remember right, we had to be careful not to get water in Matt’s ears because he had tubes in them.
At 11 years old, I remember apologizing to Bill for tearing up his field with my motorcycle.
I was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof! He graciously accepted my apology.
But the biggest laugh I ever saw Bill give was when I yanked out a record sized bull frog from his creek that goes under Newfound Rd. It’s legs were as long as my arm and Bill couldn’t believe the size of it.
Bill and the entire Edward’s family will for always be in my memory and my future.
You can count on me for anything you need.
May God Bless You All!
Chad Nesbitt
We loved Bill. Some of our fondest memories are of traveling the world with Bill and Betty. Our only regret is that we weren’t able to spend more time together. We’ve lost our best buddy.
John and Dottie
Mrs. Edwards and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Mr. Edwards was a wonderful and kind man. I always enjoyed speaking with him.
Dear Betty Jo and Family,
I am so sorry to hear of Bill’s death. I am not able to attend the funeral, but will be thinking of you all. My love and sympathy to you and your family.
Love, Louise
Betty Jo. we were truly saddened to hear of Bill’s passing. We are praying for you and the family at this time. May the peace of God be with you and sustain you.
Carl and Norma Jean – squadron friend
Betty Jo, Bill and I grew up 2 doors apart on Murdock Ave., Went to Claxton, David Millard and Lee Edwards together. We had quite a crew in that area. Monkey Bean, Bob Wenige, Charley Posey, Hiden Ramsey, Olgie Tarr, Bieman McKenzie,
Barney Ward, Wilbur Devendorf, Charlie Tilson and some others that I cannot recall at this time.
Bill was a good friend as were his brothers and Mom and Dad. We grew up in the early 30’s a tough time for everyone, but I guess that is what made us a part of the Greatest Generation, there will never be another onE like it.
May God bless and give you comfort at this time. Sincerely, Eckel Bradley
I’m sorry for you lost I’m going to miss Bill comming up to my home turkey hunting he was a very nice man I enjoyed talking with him when I was home I will keep you all in my prays and god bless you all Linda King Branch
Betty Jo, I want you to know that I am very sorry to hear about Bill. I remember you both and I believe my son, Jon went to Lee Edwards with your boys. I want you to know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Norma Henderson Creighton
Betty Jo and family,
We are so sorry to hear about Bill. He was a wonderful neighbor to my family and always made us feel welcome here. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Bill was one of the finest of the greatest generation and it was my privilege and honor to have known him through the VB/VPB 109 Reunions. Bill was always the Southern gentleman, gracious to a fault. You and your family, Betty Jo, are in our thoughts and prayers.
Lois Smith and Cindy Garlock
To the Family,
You are all in my thoughts and prayers for the loss of this wonderful man ..he will be greatly missed. God’s comfort to you all.
Donna Kirkland
Betty Jo and Family, Sorry for your loss .We had our camper beside his at Jocassee.It was always good to see him and talk with him when he came down. Our prayers go out to you and the family. Ken & Patty
The most important thing one leaves behind is this world is the priceless gift of love and its endless memories. Bill left behind us his dedication to Grace and his fiends.Know he was loved and prayed for by us, Parry and James Rogers.
So sorry to learn of your fathers death, may the Lord hold you and comfort you in the days to come. We will keep you in our prayers during this trying time.
Ron Edwards and family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. Our lives are like a vapor here on earth, gone so quick. But, by God’s grace you will see him again one day.
Dear Betty Jo
We are so sorry that were unable to attend the Memorial Service for Bill
and you have been in our thoughts since we learned of his passing. Please accept our sincere condolences and we hope to see you soon.
David & Jean Moore
So, sorry I was unable to pay my respects at Grace Baptist last night.
After Ronnie ‘Rat’ told me about Bill’s Death and the memorial service, we had a toilet malfunction, which flooded two rooms. We had to get the furniture out, remove the collapsed ceiling, remove the carpet and vacuum the water up. We finished up about 11:00 last night. Mrs. Edwards, I thought about you, R.B., Tim and Larry the whole time I was cleaning up the mess. I felt that Bill would understand my absence with the work ethic he always demonstrated.
Over the years, I’ve always been proud to mention that I got a good start in my life by working at Edwards Equipment Co. and knowing all of you. You are never far from my working or sleeping life. I still sometimes dream of working on a ‘balled up’ cash register. Even Mr. Jarvis sometimes puts in an appearance. Hey, did you know that Mr. Jarvis plays golf? At least he did in my dream. The wonderful thing about dreams….we never age! The other thing about dreams; it seems they never get finished. Come to think of it, that’s the way life is also. And if one believes in eternity; then why despair over anything (a death or two flooded rooms), because it is never finished. Knowing Bill, he will soon begin working on another project ‘in the great beyond’ where he now abides.
Miss and Love you all,
Joe Carter
To all of you,
We are keeping each of you in our thoughts and prayers during this time of sorrow. May the Good Lord Bless and comfort you in the days ahead.
I wish the best for the family and would honestly say my time at EEC was the closest I came to feeling like I was working for my own family. The integrity and sense of customer service he brought to the company is a rare asset in companies today.
Ron Edwards and family…
Words seem so inadequate at a time like this, but I want to let you know your entire family has been in my thoughts and prayers! I didn’t know your father or grandfather, personally, but knowing all of you is evidence of what a wonderful man he was, and his legacy will carry on through his precious children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. What a fortunate family to have had him, and how fortunate he was to have had such a loving and devoted family. I pray GOD brings peace and contentment to each and every one of you.
All my love!
Mary
We just heard about Bill and we are keeping you in our prayers.