Edwin C. Edwards, better known as Ed Edwards, age 96, of Wheaton, passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2020. He lived a full life.

His life began on April 25, 1924 in a farm house 20 miles southwest of DeKalb, IL, one mile west of Lee, IL. He grew up on two farms in the same square mile as his birth. He attended a one room grammar school, Lee High School and graduated from Shabbona High School in June of 1941.

He attended Northern Illinois State Teachers College in DeKalb, the predecessor of NIU. In January of 1943, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps after approval to attend the Air Corps pre-meteorology program. He attended Vanderbilt University, Nashville for all of 1943. The program was terminated at the end of 1943. Since he has completed intensive study of mathematics, physics, and geography, he was given the opportunity to train as navigators on Air Force crews. He spent all of 1944 training to be a navigator. In February of 1945, his crew began combat operations with the 449th Bomb Group 15th Air Force in Taranto Italy. He flew 5 combat mission in North Italy and Austria.

After the war ended in Europe on May 8th his group was sent back to the states. He had been corresponding with Vivian Benson and in July 1945, he finally got to meet her. They dated while he was on furlough. In September 1945, he was discharged from the Army Air Corps. They began a wonderful marriage of 70 years on December 8th 1945. He attended the University of Illinois on the G.I. Bill, and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was employed by Public Service of North Illinois, later to become Comm Ed. He worked for them for 40 years and retired in 1987. He helped seniors with their tax returns for 20 years with the AARP volunteer program. Ed enjoyed golf, music and wood working. He sung in church choirs for over 60 years. He was a member of Wheaton Silvertones for over 20 years. He and Vivian were charter members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheaton.

He is survived by two children, Laurene (Mark) Prutzman of Wheaton and Robert Edwards of Geneva, six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by Vivian in 2016.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton. A memorial service will be held in the future at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Private interment will be held in Lee, Illinois.

Memorials may be directed to the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 802 E. Geneva Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187. (630-665-1515)