Roger Edwards, Sr.

Roger Raymond Edwards, Sr., known to family and friends as Roger Raymond or ‘Big Roger’, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on August 24. He was on the earth for more than 92 years. In his youth he dearly loved loud motorcycles, fast cars, and beautiful women.

Roger was a well-respected and greatly loved member of his community. He was a member of the Oak Forest Missionary Baptist Church in Hays. He enjoyed gospel music and good preaching as well as following national and world events on the news. He was a great fan of NASCAR and loved strawberry milkshakes.

A WW2 U.S. Navy and a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran, he was in the Philippine Islands at the end of WW2, returning to the States in December 1946. Before joining the Navy he worked at American Air Filter as a welder. He earned the American Campaign, Asia-Pacific Campaign, and WW2 Victory medals during his naval service.

While in the Air Force he was a member of several teams, including the PACAF pistol team and the Air Force National Rifle Team. He earned Distinguished Marksman medals for both rifle and pistol, and won the Palma Trophy and the President’s Cup at Camp Perry, Ohio, where he competed for several years. He also was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal. After retiring from the Air Force in 1973 he moved back home to Hays where he resumed his life as a farmer on land that had been in his family for over 50 years.

Roger was preceded in death by parents Roger Ernest Edwards and Martha Mable Edwards, beloved second wife, Verba Jean (Atkins) Edwards, grandson, Gabriel Ray Edwards, and two brothers, William D. Edwards and Gene P. Edwards.

Roger is survived by his first wife, Rachel (Lawrence) Ridder and their children: Roger Edwards, Jr. (Pat), Blinda Edwards Irby, Rocky D. Edwards, and Cindy E.  Edwards; his sisters, Phyllis Bridges and Janice Kleier; granddaughter Jackie Edwards and great-grandson Elijah Hill; third wife Pauline (Groce) Edwards, step-son, Bobby Groce (Faye) and step-grandsons Brian Groce (Julie) and Kelly Groce.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at Hardy and Son Funeral Home, Bowling Green Chapel with graveside service at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Fairview Cemetery Veteran section with military honors.

Inlieu of flowers the family requests that any expressions of sympathy be made with donations to the church of your choice or to Parkinsons disease or macular degeneration research