Jack Edwards, 89, passed away on Thursday, December 11, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Jack was born June 18, 1925, in Oklahoma City to the late Elbert Wesley and Etna Louisa Edwards. Jack was raised in Oklahoma on a dairy farm and graduated from Purcell High School in Purcell, Oklahoma. During World War II, Jack served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. After the war, he attended Oklahoma A&M University (now Oklahoma State) where he graduated with a degree in Geology in 1957.
Jack was married to Peggy Thompson on April 9, 1955, in Wesley Methodist Church, Oklahoma City. Following the birth of their first child, Cynthia Ann, Jack and Peggy moved to South America where Jack worked as a Petroleum Engineer for Halliburton. They lived in Venezuela and Argentina for five years. While in Venezuela, their second child, Gregory Alan was born.
They returned to the United States in 1962 to allow Cyndi to begin school. They lived first in Houston for one year, Liberty for nine years, and then Silsbee since 1972, where Jack lived the remainder of his life.
Jack retired from Halliburton in 1986 and began an active retirement where he enjoyed golf at Silsbee Country Club and serving as a reading mentor for Silsbee Elementary School for over twenty years.
Jack enjoyed music and was faithful to God and his church. He combined these loves by singing in the choir at First United Methodist Church in Silsbee for forty years.
Jack and Peggy shared a love of reading, travel, friends, and family. Even following the loss of much of his eyesight, Jack continued to enjoy books as he listened to as many as seven recorded books a week.
Jack is survived by his loving, and dedicated wife of fifty-nine years, Peggy; brother, Wayne Edwards of Oklahoma; sister, Fern Edwards Lewis also of Oklahoma; daughter, Cyndi Standefer and her husband, Tommy; son, Greg Edwards and his wife, Pam; grandchildren, Kathryn Edwards Postel and husband, Michael; Meredith Edwards Hyde and husband, Rob; and Edward Standefer; and great-grandchildren, Abby and Emma Postel, and Wyatt, Ella, and Charlie Hyde.
A gathering of Mr. Edwards’ family and friends will be from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Sunday, December 14, 2014, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 15, 2014, at First United Methodist Church, 670 North 5th Street, Silsbee with interment to follow at Hardin Memorial Park, Silsbee.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the First United Methodist Church Choir, 670 North 5th Street, Silsbee, Texas 77656 or Silsbee Public Library, 295 North 4th Street, Silsbee, Texas 77656
