Kenneth Deland Edwards
A new soloist has joined heaven’s choir, singing louder than any other angel! Kenneth Deland Edwards was called home early in the morning on December 3, 2021. He was surrounded by his family singing praises to the Lord, and his wife beautifully playing the piano.
Ken was born in Riceville, PA, to Guy and Irene Tuttle Edwards on April 20, 1933. He had 3 older-half siblings, Gerald Edwards, Mary Edwards Fuller and Audrey Edwards Brockman, then became a big brother to Robert Edwards and Laurelys Edwards Rawlings. As children they all worked on the family farm, where Ken would run through the fields with his arms out to his sides as if he were flying.
While attending Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1953, Ken joined the U.S. Air Force. He trained as a fighter pilot, flying numerous jets including the T28 Trojan, T33 Shooting Star, F89 Scorpion, F100 Super Sabre, FJ4B Fury (while on exchange duty with the NAVY), F105 Thunderchief, T38 Talon, and the T39F Sabreliner. On November 24, 1956 he married the love of his life, Ruth Ann Metcalfe. In the next several years, they lived in many places around the world, including Japan and the Philippines. They had five children during this time, whom Ruth raised while Ken was flying missions during the Vietnam War, as well as sitting alert in South Korea.
Ken retired as Lt. Colonel in January of 1973, and the family moved from the Philippines to Iowa Park, TX, their first permanent home. Ken began working as a co-pilot, then chief pilot for the Perkins-Prothro Corporation, where he worked for the next 24 years flying such planes as the King Air 200. After he retired for the second time, he enjoyed building scale model sailing ships, one of which was displayed in the Kickapoo Airport for many years. These models required miniature tools and steady hands, but Ken worked with essential tremors. He was a perfectionist, so each ship was a masterpiece.
They moved to Wichita Falls in 2000. In the last few years of his life, as his health and memory began to deteriorate, he stated many times that he wanted to “go home”. He lived his adult life as a well-respected man of God, humble, kind, loving, and wise. He influenced the lives of many people who knew him. He faithfully attended the First Church of the Nazarene in Wichita Falls from the time the family arrived at Sheppard AFB in 1968, until he went to be with Jesus. He served as a board secretary and treasurer, Sunday School teacher, worship leader, praise team member, and consultant for the pastor.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings except Laurelys.
He is survived by his amazing wife, Ruth, five adoring children; Kendra (Daniel) Biggs of Bethany, OK, Keith (Loryn) Edwards of Magnolia, TX, Kevin (Catherine) Edwards of Edmond, OK, Kerri Edwards and Kamela (Lance) Segers of Wichita Falls, TX, nine magnificent grandchildren; Dana Biggs Primm, Daniel Biggs, Jennifer Biggs Randall, Krista Edwards Floyd, Kyle Edwards, Ryan Edwards, Kara Edwards Kerkhoff, Ticia Buzbee, James Miller, and Nathan Miller. He is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls at 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, TX 76310.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hamptonvaughancrestview.com for the EDWARDS family.
