Melvin Franklin Edwards

Melvin Franklin Edwards of Stevensville, MD passed away on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at the Hospice of Queen Anne’s in Centreville. He would have turned 79 on Sunday. He was the first of three sons born to Stewart “Bud” Edwards, and Elizabeth Ford Edwards in Rock Hall, MD on February 21, 1931 where his father was a wholesale seafood dealer and waterman and his mother was a teacher. His teen years were spent mostly as a mate on a charter boat, working in the family business, and school. He graduated from Rock Hall High School in 1948 and immediately enlisted in the Navy where he served with honor aboard two different destroyers, Haynsworth and Sumner achieving the rate of Radarman 2/c. He was proud of his service record, having served in the occupation forces in the Mediterranean area where he visited every country bordering the sea and in the Korean conflict for a brief period. Mr. Edwards raised his family on Kent Island and worked as the manager of Castle Marina, later at Island Yacht Brokers as a salesman and during his retirement years at the Kent Island Mobile station. He enjoyed woodworking, boating, crossword puzzles and sharing a multitude of humorous emails with his friends and family. He was Past Master Mason and member of the Centreville Masonic Lodge No. 180, a member of the American Legion Post #296, the Moose Lodge, and past Treasurer of the Kent Island Yacht Club. Mr. Edwards is survived by his loving wife, Mildred Fuld Edwards; two daughters and their husbands, Valerie Williams (Scott) of Finksburg, MD and Joann Willis (Tom) of Easton, MD; four grandchildren, Joseph Willis and David Willis, both of Easton, Bonnie Wright of Bear, DE, and Laura Wood of Preston, MD; five great-grandchildren, Kaylen Wright and Addison Willis, Delanie Anderson, Karlie Roberts and Austin Roberts and his beloved cat, Meloni. He has enjoyed a special relationship with his niece, Candy Edwards-Roach and her daughter, Brynne over the years and with his dear friend and brother-in-law, Paul Fuld of Kent Island. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Stuart “Glyn” Edwards of Rock Hall and Nantucket and Pete “Leo” Edwards of Rock Hall. A visitation and service will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2010 from 6 to 8pm at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., 106 Shamrock Road, Chester, MD. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are appreciated to Hospice of Queen Anne’s, Inc., 255 Comet Drive, Centreville, MD 21617.

Melvin Franklin Edwards

February 21, 1931 - February 18, 2010