- Date Of Birth: February 15, 1929
- Date Of Death: June 19, 2014
- State: Missouri
Lt. Colonel Carroll Edwards
Carroll Lee Edwards was born in Mound City, Missouri to Don and Zelma Brown Edwards on February 15, 1929. He passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico, Missouri. He attended the Mound City Schools where he graduated from high school in 1947. Carroll entered the Army in 1947 and received an honorable discharge in April, 1953. He farmed a few years with his father before re-entering the military when he went into the Air Force. While in the Air Force, he graduated from Officers’ Candidate School then proceeded to further his education by attending and graduating from Southwest Teachers University in San Marcos, Texas with a mechanical engineering degree, from Ohio State University with an aero-space engineering degree, and a logistics engineering degree from the University of Illinois.
While in the Air Force, “The Colonel” served his country well as a jet pilot in the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Falkland Islands encounter, and flew and landed the second plane at the initiation of the Grenada conflict. He was squadron commander for many years and served two tours of duty at the Pentagon where he worked on Desert Storm logistics. “The Colonel” also experienced a rewarding tour of duty at the Rescue Coordination Center located at Scotts Air Force Base. He logged a total flying time of greater than 4 years in the air as a jet pilot and flew over 22 million miles in his 33 years of service. “The Colonel” finished his successful military career in February of 1991 as Lt. Colonel in the Air Force.
“The Colonel” was a member of the Eastside Lions Club in St. Joseph, the Mound City Masonic Lodge, the Moolah Shrine Club in St. Joseph, served as president of the Huckleberry Heights Association of Hannibal for many years, and most recently a member of the Hannibal American Legion, and First Christian Church in Hannibal.
Mr. Edwards married Phyllis Bender Watson on April 30, 1994. He is survived by his wife of the home and four children; Michael Edwards of O-Fallon, MO, Mary Ann Bruntmeyer of St. Joseph, MO, Mark Edwards of Rosendale, MO, and Donna Edwards of Springfield, MO. He has three step-sons, Craig Watson of Naperville, Il., Carl Watson of Hannibal, MO, Chris Watson of Hannibal, MO, one niece, Lisa Stump of St. Joseph, MO one nephew, Clint Barnes of St. Joseph, MO and twelve grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Marcia Edwards, and one sister, Barbara Edwards Barnes.
