Edwards John A.

John Alvin Edwards, 67, of Poplar Bluff, died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006 at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Edwards was born Nov. 25, 1938, in Poplar Bluff. Retired from the United States Air Force as well as the United States Army, he served one tour of duty in Korea and two tours in Vietnam. For his service he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, USAF Noncommissioned Officer Academy Graduate Ribbon, Air Force Good Conduct Medal Second Award, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon Second Award, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserves Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Four Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Two Overseas Service Bars, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Training Service Medal Second Class, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Sharpshooter Award. Mr. Edwards was of the Church of Christ faith: a 32 Degree Mason with Masonic Lodge 209 and a Shriner. He enjoyed spending time with his family and fishing.

On Jan. 26, 2000, he married Janet Shepard, in Corning, Ark. She survives.

Other survivors include 9 children, Donnie Edwards, of Cyril, Okla., Ronny Edwards, of Wagner, Okla., Tricia Sellers, David Edwards and Jerry Lacy, all of Faxon, Okla., Calvin Ray Shepard, William Miller and Wade Alan Simpson, all of Poplar Bluff and John Ronald Swofford, of Staten Island, NY; 17 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Kerns Chapel Church on M Hwy, in the Stringtown community of Butler County. The funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Eldon Wheelis officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Kerns Chapel Cemetery.