11/05/2017
Robert Wayne “Bob” Edwards age 88, of Knoxville, Iowa, passed away Sunday, November 5, 2017, at West Ridge Specialty Care in Knoxville.
A visitation will be held from 4:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, November 9, 2017, at the Celebrate Community Church of Knoxville. The service will be held the following day at 10:30 A.M., Friday, November 10th at the Celebrate Community Church as well, followed by interment at Graceland Cemetery.
Robert Wayne Edwards was born September 3, 1929, to Dora Elizabeth (Adams) and Vincent Ralph Edwards in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Edward’s family soon moved back to Marion County, where he attended a few years of grade school in Melcher-Dallas.
Bob also attended school in Knoxville and was a great athlete for Knoxville High School Football Team and he was also a state champion pole vaulter. Bob is an inductee of the Knoxville Athletic Hall of Fame.
After High School Bob served in the Iowa National Guard and began to work as a lineman for the telephone company in the Gladbrook and Toledo, Iowa area. He soon moved back to Knoxville and was a lineman for the Bellamy Phone Company in Knoxville. He continued working for the telephone company for the next 25 years. He started as a lineman and retired as the Safety Coordinator with Contel Telephone Company. Bob also co-owned the Lighthouse Bait Shop and Knight Security during and after his retirement from the telephone company.
Bob enjoyed his family, hard work, and athletics. Bob dedicated his life to his family and serving the community of Knoxville in many capacities. He coached youth baseball and basketball. He helps organize the first youth basketball league in Knoxville. He umpired Babe Ruth and High School Baseball and Refereed High School Football.
Bob served on the Park Board, the School Board, and the City Council for many years. He was also a former volunteer on the Knoxville Fire Department and he gave countless hours of time and work to the city of Knoxville and its organizations.
Those left to cherish Bob’s memories are his children, Pennie (Dwight) Sommar, Robert “Robin” W. (Aundra) Edwards II and Edye Waits (Kevin Hall); ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; sister, Roberta (Ed) McDonald and brother-in-law, Max (Donna) Park.
Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Doris; his parents, Dora Dunbar and Vincent Edwards; sisters, Florence Laufler, Norma Kane, and Alberta Robuck; brothers, Ralph, Don, Merrill Edwards, and Ernie Wilfong.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Central Iowa in Marion County or the family for a memorial bench at the Ken Locke Stadium.