David Eugene Edwards, 85, of Gulfport, Miss., passed away Monday, May 19, 2014.
He was born April 30, 1929, in Hamlet, N.C., son of Henry and Hazel Edwards.
He learned to fly when he was 17-years-old and served in the Air Force, Navy and Army. He served on the U.S.S. Boxer in the Korean War, was a member of the Army Security Agency and served in Shemya, Alaska, as well as Ethiopia and Turkey. He retired in 1972. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and U.S.S. Boxer Veteran’s Association.
He was nicknamed “PapPap” and “Pepper” by his grandchildren and enjoyed keeping in touch with them by email and share pictures, jokes and political cartoons. He also loved to play pool daily with his friends at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Miss.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and wife, Jeannette Sebold Edwards.
Survivors include two children, Jean Gyovai of Licking and Raymond Sebold of Montaque, Mass.; five grandchildren; and many other family members.
A memorial mass is 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Licking with Father Matthew Rehrauer officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the Shafer Cemetery under the direction of Fox Funeral Home.
