Obituary for William J. Edwards
EDWARDS— William J. 'Bill,' 90, of Xenia, Ohio, passed away at Ohio's Hospice of Dayton, Sunday, November 10, 2024.
Bill is survived by his 5 children: Janice E. Sudkamp (Thomas Sudkamp); Jeanette Edwards Ferreira (Steven Ferreira): Debra E Brookhouser (Lynn Brookhouser); Willam E. Edwards (Marina Edwards); Thomas G. Edwards (Karla Edwards). He was the grandfather to: Elizabeth R. Sudkamp; Helen E Litz (Jonathan), David E. Ferreira, Emma J. Ferreira, Joanne Ferreira; Erin Keller, Daniel Edwards. He was the greatgrandfather of Amelia Bea Litz and Nathan P. Litz. He is survived by many nephews and nieces.
Bill was preceded in death by wife of 38 years, Regina J. (Musilek) Edwards 'Jean'; his parents, Ernest and Alice (Libertine) Edwards; and his siblings: Shirley May, Ethel Neuman, Leona Wilhelmy, Betty Prokop Popovich, Gary Edwards, and Ernest Edwards, Thelma Edwards, who died in infancy.
Bill was born April 15, 1934, in Beaverdale, Pennsylvania, where he was raised. In his youth, he attended St. Agnes Church in Beaverdale, where he was married in 1955. He was a member of St. Brigid's Church in Xenia, Ohio, and a member of St. Michael's Church in PA.
Bill attended high school in Beaverdale, PA, where he was a noted scholar and athlete. His abilities earned him many scholastic and athletic honors and scholarships. He chose to attend University of Pennsylvania, and played football for 'Penn,' for two years. He graduated from Penn with bachelor's and master's degrees in Electrical Engineering. He worked his first engineering job as a design engineer during his graduate years at Philco Corp., Government and Industrial Division in Philadelphia, PA.
Bill entered active duty as a second lieutenant in November of 1958 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He would remain working at 'Wright-Patt' throughout his years of AF service (1958-1962), and during his years as a Civil Service employee, until his retirement in April of 1995.
Working at 'Wright-Patt' for over 36 years, Bill was involved in numerous technologies and rose through many promotions. He earned an SES
April 15, 1934 - November 10, 2024
appointment, and he retired as Electronic Technology Laboratory Director.
Bill started in 1958 conducting tests on the Mark II IFF System. Upon entering the Civil Service, he worked on developing solid state microwave technology base, integrated microwave circuit technology and phased array radars. He directed programs for devices, circuits, antennas, radars, propagation, sensor processing, and target signatures. He served as the AF Director of the VHSIC program, and the MIMIC program. He was an active participant in the DD Advisory group for Electron Devices.
Being stationed at WPAFB, brought Bill to Xenia, Ohio, in 1958, where he was a resident until his death.
He spent many many years working on his beloved home, rebuilding and extending the house, and caring for the property. He was very good, along with his wife, at 'making a lot out of little.' He learned as he tackled jobs, worked with a beloved brother-in-law, Donald, and with Jean and his children. His vision and taste created a lovely home. He went on to build a cabin in PA with the same labor and vision.
He grew up hunting, fishing and walking the woods and fields. This love took him regularly back to PA to enjoy those things until his very last years.
He tried many things - musical instruments, earned a pilot's license, traveled, reloading ammunition, repairing tube radios. He was an avid reader, and he would quote literature and song, even as age and infirmity robbed him of memory.
Bill will have the following services: Visitation Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Neeld Funeral Home, Xenia, Ohio.
Mass of Christian Burial Thursday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m., St. Brigid Church, Xenia, Ohio.
Visitation Friday, Nov. 15, at 6 to 8 p.m., Jean Kinley Funeral Home, Beaverdale, PA.
Burial Saturday, Nov. 16, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Beaverdale, PA.
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