Obituary of James Edwards

James Warren Edwards, 87, of Omaha, TX passed away December 28, 2006 at Houston, TX after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born in Fort Worth, TX on December 6, 1919. He married Helen Witt in 1940 in Oklahoma where their 3 children were born. After serving in the military during WWII, he raised his family in Southern California then returned to Texas in the early 70’s. Though he worked for oil companies for most of his life, he was also a professional boxer in his youth. Jim won the Golden Gloves Championship of Kansas at the age of 19. In the early 1950’s he invented and held the first patent on the “Optic Level” a tool now obsolete, but previously used worldwide. In 1957 Jim moved his family to Punta Arenas, Chile for 2 years where he worked for Santa Fe Drilling Co. Helen accompanied him while living and working in Peru, Mexico and Two Stints in Israel, as Superintendent of Israel’s Offshore Drilling Ship. He also worked for drilling companies in Venezuela, Greece and Iraq. He and Helen both enjoyed their world travel, but particularly loved the time spent in the Holy Lands where they had close Jewish and Palestinian friends. During the 1960’s, while working in Nevada at the Atomic Energy Commission Test Site, Jim became a 32nd Degree Mason. Upon retiring in Omaha, TX, Jim ran his own Water Well Drilling Company and raised cattle. He was a respected Elder of the Life Tabernacle Church of Naples, TX where he attended with his wife, Helen, and then later his wife Melba Hammonds Edwards who he married after Helen’s death. Jim was a generous, affectionate, good natured man who loved people and life. He lived an unusual and interesting life and was always full of fun and fascinating tales. He love to dance, travel, drive in the rain, and plant things, but most of all, he loved to laugh and that was always contagious. His sweet smiling face was present throughout his illness and will be deeply missed by family, friends and all who knew and loved him. Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 45 years, Helen Witt Edwards of Omaha, TX and brother, Mack Edwards of Nacona, TX. He is survived by his wife, Melba Edwards of Texarkana, TX; sons, Pat Edwards of Houston, TX and Mike Edwards of Garden Grove, CA; daughter Marlys Edwards of Portland, OR; 6 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, other relatives and a host of friends.