Howell "Hal" Edwards

Howell Barnes Edwards, Jr. was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a
song in his heart and adventure in his soul! Howell, otherwise known
as Hal, Bud or Tex “if he was ordering out,” or Steve, when he was a
radio announcer in Alabama, was the oldest of three children. His
sister, Carol Ann, passed away in 2001, and his younger brother,
Robert, passed away at just 3 years old.

He traveled extensively with his early family, while his father
served 30 years in the U.S. Army as a hospital administrator. Hal
stayed from time to time with his relatives in Tennessee and Georgia,
learning about the family farm and enjoying the company and
companionship of his relatives. As a young man he enjoyed singing with
his mother, “old time country songs,” that she would remember from her
own childhood. These fun times influenced him to try various musical
instruments, and he seemed to pick them up right away. People around
him shared his enthusiasm by singing along.

He met his high school sweetheart, Joan, in Riverside, California,
at Poly High. They were married right before he enlisted in the U.S.
Air Force, where he served 20 years. He was a veteran of the Korean
and Vietnam Wars. During his service to our country, he and Joan had
three children and traveled across the U.S. and abroad.

While in the military, he continued to study classical and sacred
music, directing church choirs and making many dear friends. Even
playing block flute in a group while on assignment in the Panama Canal
Zone. On an isolated assignment, Hal sometimes played the organ for
six services a day in Thule, Greenland.

After retiring from the military, he went back to school earning
his master’s degree in education Magna Cum Laude (or as his son,
Robert, would say, "cum la dee dah") with a minor in pipe organ sacred
music. He belonged to the University of Oregon Alumni and the Friends
of Huntington College in Montgomery, Alabama.

He settled in Grants Pass, Oregon, to begin his teaching career
where he taught at South Middle School, Grants Pass High, and was a
substitute choir director at Rogue Community College. He coached
football at South Middle School. One year, the team was undefeated.
The players were encouraged to join the choir at school in order to
show that strong guys can sing too. Hal was proud of the choir, and
one year, the 50 member boys’ choir won the State Competition in
Portland. He would reward his students with great field trips and
other planned events.

After retiring from teaching, he began to pursue many hobbies,
including genealogy. Hal wrote two books on the family histories,
going across the U.S. in search of information for any future
generations that would be interested. Hal was fascinated by words and
languages. He gave piano, voice, and guitar lessons. Enjoying
crossword puzzles, English humor, and having a quick wit made him the
life of the party.

After losing 90% of his eyesight due to macular degeneration, he
would spend hours during the week memorizing the hand positions for
hymns to play at church on Sundays. He became one of the very first
people in the State of Oregon to hold a driver’s license for the
legally blind.

Hal appreciated his boat, that he named Wau-song, which literally
means "the world around us song." He would go fishing with friends and
family in Oregon, even the mighty Columbia River in the Columbia
Gorge. Hal golfed, was a lifetime member of the VFW, and flew small
planes with the Civil Air Patrol. He drove seniors to doctor’s
appointments, and volunteered with the city police as a public safety
officer.

Hal also worked for two years gathering signatures in order to put
a vote on the ballot to enact a “noise ordinance,” which was voted in,
and still remains on the books today!

He and his beloved wife, Joan, took many trips around the globe.
One of the highlights in flight that the couple shared was seeing the
aurora borealis over Iceland in the glassed-in cockpit on a military
transporter plane. They also enjoyed many different countries in
Europe, plus South America, Australia, Canada, Japan and others.

He had a full life and a wonderful marriage of 68 years, all the
while being supportive and encouraging to his children and
grandchildren with their education and needs. He spent summers and
vacation time with his grandsons and nephews, Jeff, Mark, Mike, Matt,
and Marty Strosnider, whenever he could.

His “Victory Service” was held at Our Savior Lutheran Church here
in Grants Pass and the burial at Hillcrest Memorial Park also in
Grants Pass, along with an Air Force Honor Guard presenting the Flag
with Ordinance to his wife, Joan. Hal loved God and his Country.

Hal is survived by his wife, Joan; daughters, Kathleen Clark and
Wendy Dawdy; granddaughter, Marion; and grandsons, Daniel, Patrick,
and Collin.

He was preceded in death by his only son, Robert “Bob” (56); and
grandsons, Ian (29) and Kyle (19).