LTC EMMET D. EDWARDS, JR To TAPS

Dr. Emmet Dee ("Big Ed") Edwards, Jr., 86, a former paratrooper, took his last jump from this earthly plain to the next on March 12, 2017. He was born January 4, 1931 in Calhoun City, MS, son of the late Emmet Dee, Sr. and Birdie Mae (Weeks) Edwards.

Emmet was an Army paratrooper for 26 years. His awards and decorations include, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster (2nd award), Bronze Star Medal with 3 OLC, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palms, Presidential Unit Citation with OLC, Meritorious Unit Citation, Master Parachutist Badge, Glider Badge, and Pathfinder Badge. 

After retiring from the Army as a Finance Corps LTC in 1974, he moved his family to Mt. Vernon, IN to take a teaching position at the University of Southern Indiana (then I.S.U.E.). Before retiring in 1993, he was awarded a number of honors including the Alumni Association Distinguished Professor Award and the first Small Business Administration Research Fellowship. He ended his tenure at USI as Associate Dean of the School of Business. Emmet published his autobiography, “Time in the Prop Blast,” in 2012. He was a Master Mason and a member of the Elks, American Legion Post #5 in Mt. Vernon and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Evansville. 

"Big Ed" authored a fascinating auto biography, "Time in the Prop Blast".    After sharing their lives for sixty three years, with a deep and abiding love Emmet and Ruth Edwards, through two significant professional careers, five beautiful children, and surviving indescribable sorrows together, their lives are inseparable. His life story is her life story and she contributed as much to it as he did. Their life together was a wonderful adventure and a great love story filled with accomplishments and heart breaks. Through it all, their love for each other made all things possible.   

He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 63 years, Ruth (Brister) Edwards; daughters, Erica Edwards and Wynn “Wendy” Atkinson; son, Emmet Dee Edwards, III; and brother, John W. “Dub” Edwards. 

He is survived by his daughters, Karen Edwards and Cheryl Roos; his favorite granddaughter, Rachel Stilley; grandsons, Shawn (Lisa) Howard, Chad (Tandi) Howard, Ranger and James Davis, Jonathan Stilley, and Tyler Roos; sister, Frances (Harvey) Aden; cousins, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 6:00 pm, Friday, March 17, 2017, at Schneider Funeral Home, 512 Main St. Mt. Vernon, IN. Friends and family may visit from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Friday at the funeral home. Internment will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the University of Southern Indiana Athletic Department.