Herbert Leroy Edwards obituary

On Tuesday February 2, 2021, Pastor Herbert Leroy Edwards, age 98 of Warren, Indiana, passed away at his residence, Heritage Pointe Home. Born on November 3, 1922 in Carroll County, Illinois, he was the son of the late Glen Orville and the late Mary Ellen Zillhart Edwards. In 1945 he married Ruth Ellen Wiggins of Dixon, Illinois. As the patriarch of the Edwards family, Herbert lived longer than any ancestor since 1662.

After farming for many years, he earned a BA degree in Philosophy and a BA in Theology from Huntington College and Seminary. On 31 July 1955 he was ordained an Elder in the Church of the United Brethren. Continuing his education he completed Masters Classes in Christian Education from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Masters degree in Education and Psychology St. Francis College of Fort Wayne.

As a Pastor, Herbert served the United Brethren in Christ Church in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa before moving the family to Huntington in 1961. There Pastor Edwards served United Brethren and Evangelical United Brethren Churches as well as teacher/Principal for Banquo and teacher/Assistant Principal for Jefferson Center Schools. In 1968 he joined the United Methodist Conference and was stationed at the Atwood Circuit, Frankton, and the Brushwood Covenant Parish. In 1988 he retired from Forest-Hillisburg Circuit. After retirement Herbert served as supply pastor for Mt. Ayr and Chaplain for Hospice of Jasper County.

Active in his community, Herbert volunteered for the American Red Cross of Kosciusko and Madison Counties, Lions Club of Atwood and Frankton, volunteer fireman and ambulance driver. In addition Pastor Edwards chaired the Northern Indiana Methodist Conference Disaster Relief Committee and served on the World Mission Committee taking mission work trips to Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Liberia, Africa. While living at Heritage Pointe, he served as Chaplin from 2000 to 2007, did patient transport, and volunteered in the ceramic shop and Apple Cove.

Surviving are four daughters: RoxyAnn (Michael) Casper of Decatur, IN, Marsha Edwards of Franklin, IN, Theresa (Gary) Wright of Frankton, IN, and Denise Edwards of Corvallis, MT; one sister: Doris (Kenny) Geisz of Lanark IL; seven grandchildren: Ella (Adam) Casper-Eichhorn, Emma (Forrest) Powell, Evan Casper, Ephrem Casper, Brandy (Austin) Bolles, Trent and Taylor VanBriggle; two step grandchildren: Kevin (Cindy) Wright and Todd (Tyra) Wright; two great grandchildren: Josie and Justin King; and five step great grandchildren: Ashley Gaither, Kirk Gaither, Rachel, Taylor, and Bronson Wright. Preceding Herbert in death are his wife, Ruth on February 13, 2013, one brother, Sherman Laverne, and one sister, Wilma Pauley.