Obituary for Don Edwards

Don Luther Edwards

(November 5, 1934 – November 5, 2015)

Don Luther Edwards, resident of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on Thursday, November 5, 2015 on his birthday. He was 81.

Funeral services celebrating Don’s life will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 9, 2015 at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the corner of 5th and Cleveland with Reverend Larry B. Metzger officiating.

Family will receive friends on Sunday, November 8, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Trout Funeral Home.

Don is the son of Paul T. Edwards and Cordelia Tanner Edwards. With the exception of a few early elementary years spent in Winfield, Kansas, Don attended Ponca City schools and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1952. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater, Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1957. He married Carolyn Sue Talbott March 1, 1958 in the chapel at First Christian Church in Ponca City. They have four children, Jason Edwards, Don Edwards, Eric Edwards, and Anne Edwards Hlasney.

Don served in the United States Air Force – Reserves from 1957 to 1959. He was a Captain and was active duty from 1959 to 1962. Don was stationed at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas and at Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Frankfurt, West Germany. Don retired from the military in 1967.

Don worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C. from 1952 to 1953. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals organization and played minor league baseball in Ardmore, Oklahoma and in Albany, Georgia in 1954. Don interned as an engineer with Continental Oil Co. during the summers of 1955 and 1956 in both Ponca City and Denver, CO. Don worked as a mechanical engineer for Conoco from 1956 to 1993. During those 37 years with Conoco, Don and his family lived in many locations including Lake Charles, LA, Denver, CO, London, UK, and Ponca City.

Don and Carolyn joined First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Ponca City in 1967. Don was an active member serving as an Elder, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and held various positions on the church board. He was the Chairman of the Regional Outreach Committee and a member of the Regional Faith In Action Commission. Don was Assistant Scout Master for Boy Scouts of America of Troop 1 at FCC for many years.

During his life, Don enjoyed many hobbies. He loved sports! Don coached all his sons from little league to high school on the baseball diamond. Don was an avid hunter and fisherman and passed his talents onto his family. Most of all, Don enjoyed the game of Golf. He taught all of his children and grandchildren the game and supplied them all with fine sets of golf clubs as they grew up. Don supported and attended athletic events at Oklahoma State University throughout his life. Family vacations often included attending major league baseball games, rounds of golf, and water sports.

Don especially loved being a grandfather! He had a constant supply of gummy bears and a pocket full of quarters for his grandkids. The times together as a family brought him great joy! Don’s was a life well-lived, full of smiles, laughter, and many pranks and jokes! He loved God and loved his family.

Don is survived by the love of his life and wife of 57 years, Carolyn Sue Talbott Edwards of Ponca City; son, Jason Edwards and wife Kim of Houston, Texas; son Don Edwards and wife Peggy Sutko of Allen, Texas; son, Eric Edwards and wife Mitzi Pemberton of Ponca City; daughter, Anne Edwards Hlasney and husband Todd of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren: Joshua Edwards and wife Whitney; Aimee Edwards, Christopher Edwards, Ethan Edwards, Amanda Edwards, Ben Edwards, Allison Edwards, Taylor Pemberton, Ethan Deibler, Tanner Hlasney, Luke Hlasney, and Henley Hlasney; great grandchildren: Reese Edwards, Cooper Edwards, and Jordan Kinnard.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Paul T. and Cordelia Edwards; sister, Corrine Edwards Bodman; brother, Stanley Edwards, and grandson, Patrick Edwards.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a Memorial Gift to Friendship Feast at First Christian Church in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Source: Trout Funeral Home