Obituary: Robert Edwards, 78, Custer.

Robert Edwards

Obituary: Robert Edwards, 78, Custer. 

#MasonCountyDeaths.

Robert Graham Edwards, 78, of Custer passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, May 19, 2017.  Robert was born on March 28, 1939 in Bitner, Pennsylvania, the son of John G. and Mildred (Jordan) Edwards and served with the United States Coast Guard as chief boatswain’s mate, retiring in 1978 after 22 years of service to his country.  On July 11, 1959 he married the love of his life, Joan Whitaker, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Custer, and they have celebrated 57 years by each other’s side.

Following his retirement from the Coast Guard, Robert became a salesman/route driver for Ludington Beverage for the next 25 years, retiring again in 2004.  Not to be idle, he very much enjoyed having time to work around his home in Custer, growing vegetables in his garden, pursuing his love of horses and watching old westerns on TV, especially “Gunsmoke.”

Robert was an active member of Beacon Ministries in Scottville where he served on the board of trustees for 25 years, helped with various deacon tasks, and assisted during worship operating the sound board.  He was also a founding member of the Full Gospel Men’s Ministry in Mason County.

Robert will be greatly missed by his wife Joan; his daughter Rev. Tammy Bacon and husband Ron of Custer; his son Troy Edwards and fiancée Jennifer McWilliams of Ludington; his grandchildren: Mindy (Shaun) Reed, Dan (Ashley) Bacon, Adam Edwards, Austin Keson (Fiancée Donielle Wright), Zac Edwards, and Makana Edwards; his great-grandchildren: Kirsten, Haley, and Zoe Bacon, Toby and Max Reed, Dayton Lyewski, and Tessa Keson; his brother J.R. (Brenda) Linteman of Niles; his sisters: Carol Edwards of Warren, Ohio, and Cathy Brown of Clifton Forge, West Virginia; his brother-in-law Daniel (Christine) Whitaker of Alabama; his sisters-in-law: Cheryl Edwards of Ravenna, Ohio, Linda Whitaker of Custer, Suzy (Jerry) VanderWall of Grand Haven, and Jane (Ed) Myer of Ludington; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Robert was preceded in death by his daughter Denise Edwards in 2005; his parents; his brother Jack Edwards; his sister Jean Connelly; and his brother-in-law Joseph Whitaker.

Funeral services with honor guard rites will be held for Robert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23 at Beacon Ministries with Rev. Judith Harrington officiating.  Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Custer.  Friends may meet with his family for a time of visitation on Tuesday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. at the church.  Those who wish to remember Robert with a memorial donation are asked to consider his family to assist with medical expenses.

Please visit Robert’s memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to leave a tribute of Robert for his family or to light a candle in his memory.