Ronald Paul Edwards

Ronald Paul Edwards, age 62, of Grants Pass, passed away peacefully Saturday, March 8, 2008 in Grants Pass.

A memorial service will be at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at Grace Bible Church with Pastor Cloud officiating. Private interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to the Edwards Scholarship Fund to benefit Spanish Learners, checks should be made payable to Grants Pass High School Foundation in memory of Ron Edwards c/o, Grants Pass High School, 830 NE 9th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

Ron was born June 9, 1945 in Eugene, the younger of two sons born to Paul & Marjorie Edwards. In junior high he was inspired by his Spanish teacher to follow in her footsteps and become a teacher. In high school he was a member of the National Honor Society. He received a master’s degree in social studies from the University of Oregon. After finishing his studies in 1968, Ron served as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Ecuador where he taught English to natives in the Ecuadorian Amazon. He successfully completed 30 years of teaching Spanish at Grants Pass High School. In his later years Ron was fond of “telling his story” to anyone he thought might be interested.

While living and teaching in Grants Pass, Ron pursued his passion for traveling to Europe and South America, pruning his elaborate rose garden, and hosting dinner parties for friends and colleagues.

Ron attended Grace Bible Church. Although he always considered himself a good Christian before a major heart attack in 1997, he would later say the health crisis left him more focused on spiritual matters. His church was a major support as were his family and friends. He would say that he was not afraid of death now because of his faith in the gospel and confidence in the life to come. The Bible was his favorite book and was well worn with use.

He is survived by his former spouse, Mary McKinnon; a son, Ronald Keith Edwards; two daughters, Melissa Clark and her husband Don Clark Jr and Paula Marie Edwards; and a granddaughter all of Grants Pass.

He was preceded in death by his older brother, Robert Lee Edwards.