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Robert Joseph Edwards
Posted 11/17/07
Robert Joseph Edwards, 78 CAMDEN - Robert Joseph Edwards of Camden died at home Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. He was 78. Mr. Edwards was born Jan. 25, 1929, in Teague, Texas, the youngest of 10 children …
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Robert Joseph Edwards
Posted
Robert Joseph Edwards, 78
CAMDEN - Robert Joseph Edwards of Camden died at home Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. He was 78.
Mr. Edwards was born Jan. 25, 1929, in Teague, Texas, the youngest of 10 children born to the late Oscar and Emma Park Edwards.
At the age of 17 and as a corporal, he served with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, and then with the U.S. Air Force during Korea and Vietnam.
He retired in the grade of E9 as a chief master sergeant after 23 years.
He subsequently worked as a civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force as an air terminal manager at both Anderson Air Force Base, Guam and Dover Air Force Base, retiring in 1985.
While at Dover's Aerial Port, he coined the term 'Superport' that was entered in the Military Airlift Command's lexicon.
Mr. Edwards was a member of many fraternal organizations, including the Camden Veterans of Foreign Wars, Friendship American Legion in Friendship, N.Y., the Disabled American Veterans (serving as a one-time commander of the Dover chapter and as the senior vice commander for the state), the Air Force Association, the Tanker/Airlift Association, Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Military Order of the Cooties, Smithsonian, AMC Museum and Dover Air Force Base Officers Club.
Mr. Edwards was a voracious reader and enjoyed traveling, especially on cruise ships, tinkering with his computer and the camaraderie of the many comrades at the Camden VFW Post and Friendship American Legion Post.
He received many awards and recognition by his co-workers, to whom he was most grateful.
Mr. Edwards was preceded in death by his nine brothers and sisters, Ervin L., Jack W., W.T., John Earl, Sammy R., Bernice Cavanaugh, Evelyn Estes, Willie Ivy and Doris Threadgill.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Barbara Wilbur Edwards. Although Robert never had children of his own, he earned the love and respect of his three stepchildren, Jeannie George and her fiancé Paul Lande of Camden, Marsha Custer of Dover, and M.J. and Susan Brent of Oakhurst, Calif.; seven step-grandchildren, Monica Lucas and husband Eric, Jessica Hodges and husband Jermaine, Lindsay, Ashley and Maddie Brent and Michael and Cody Custer; four step-great-grandchildren, Madison and Meaghan Lucas and Kayla and Keira Hodges; and numerous nieces and nephews throughout Texas and Tennessee who affectionately call him Uncle Bobby or Bobby Joe.
Funeral services with full military honors will be 1 p.m. Monday in Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover, where friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Sunday.
Interment will take place on Nov. 25 at Greenwood Cemetery in Teague.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the USO Delaware Inc. or The Good Shepherds Fund of The 1st Sergeants Council, Dover Air Force Base, DE 19902.
CAMDEN - Robert Joseph Edwards of Camden died at home Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. He was 78.
Mr. Edwards was born Jan. 25, 1929, in Teague, Texas, the youngest of 10 children born to the late Oscar and Emma Park Edwards.
At the age of 17 and as a corporal, he served with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, and then with the U.S. Air Force during Korea and Vietnam.
He retired in the grade of E9 as a chief master sergeant after 23 years.
He subsequently worked as a civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force as an air terminal manager at both Anderson Air Force Base, Guam and Dover Air Force Base, retiring in 1985.
While at Dover's Aerial Port, he coined the term 'Superport' that was entered in the Military Airlift Command's lexicon.
Mr. Edwards was a member of many fraternal organizations, including the Camden Veterans of Foreign Wars, Friendship American Legion in Friendship, N.Y., the Disabled American Veterans (serving as a one-time commander of the Dover chapter and as the senior vice commander for the state), the Air Force Association, the Tanker/Airlift Association, Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Military Order of the Cooties, Smithsonian, AMC Museum and Dover Air Force Base Officers Club.
Mr. Edwards was a voracious reader and enjoyed traveling, especially on cruise ships, tinkering with his computer and the camaraderie of the many comrades at the Camden VFW Post and Friendship American Legion Post.
He received many awards and recognition by his co-workers, to whom he was most grateful.
Mr. Edwards was preceded in death by his nine brothers and sisters, Ervin L., Jack W., W.T., John Earl, Sammy R., Bernice Cavanaugh, Evelyn Estes, Willie Ivy and Doris Threadgill.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Barbara Wilbur Edwards. Although Robert never had children of his own, he earned the love and respect of his three stepchildren, Jeannie George and her fiancé Paul Lande of Camden, Marsha Custer of Dover, and M.J. and Susan Brent of Oakhurst, Calif.; seven step-grandchildren, Monica Lucas and husband Eric, Jessica Hodges and husband Jermaine, Lindsay, Ashley and Maddie Brent and Michael and Cody Custer; four step-great-grandchildren, Madison and Meaghan Lucas and Kayla and Keira Hodges; and numerous nieces and nephews throughout Texas and Tennessee who affectionately call him Uncle Bobby or Bobby Joe.
Funeral services with full military honors will be 1 p.m. Monday in Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover, where friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Sunday.
Interment will take place on Nov. 25 at Greenwood Cemetery in Teague.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the USO Delaware Inc. or The Good Shepherds Fund of The 1st Sergeants Council, Dover Air Force Base, DE 19902.
