John Lowell Edwards, 91, of Springfield, MO went to be with his Lord on February 13, 2013. John lived a long full Christian life.
John was born on January 24, 1922 to Darsie and Jessie (Dody) Edwards in Clinton, MO. He was the second of eight children. He grew up in the Nevada area, going to school and working on the family farm. John entered the Army in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater (New Guinea and the Philippines). John was married to Janice Wilkerson on August 21, 1948 and made his home in Springfield, MO. He earned his B.S. degree in Agriculture in 1950 from Southwest Missouri State University. He also did graduate work at the University of Arkansas and other institutions. Gregory Edwards was born to John and Janice on October 13, 1950. After college John worked for Producers Creamery Co., MFA, Carnation Co., and West Virginia Pulp Co. from1950 -1963. During the later part of this period, John also preached part-time at the East Grand Church of Christ. He began his 25 year (full-time) preaching career in 1964 in St. Louis at what is now the McKnight Road Church of Christ. John retired at age 70 and moved back to Springfield, MO.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Clara and Helen, and one brother Homer, by his first wife Janice and son Cary. John is survived by his second wife Rose, son Greg and wife Becky, grandchildren Noelle and Christopher and Christopher’s wife Brooke. He is also survived by his brother Glenn and wife Ann, brother Earl and wife Lora, sister Mary and husband John Barton, and sister Martha, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was loved and respected by many and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services for John will be at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, February 19, 2013 in Greenlawn Funeral Home East with interment to follow in Mt. Comfort Cemetery in Springfield. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, February 18, 2013 in the funeral home.
The family has asked in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Fair Haven Children’s Home (Strafford, MO) in the name of John L. Edwards.