George Robert Edwards

George Robert Edwards, 85, entered eternal rest on Monday, February 19, 2007 after a long and gracious acceptance of Alzheimer's disease. He was cared for and died at his home in Fayetteville, WV. Born March 06, 1921 at Denver, CO he was the son of the late Wilfred and Esther Edwards. He served in the US Army Air Corps 90th Bombardment Group (heavy) in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After his return, Edwards left Denver to join one of the nation’s largest tire retreading plants in Manchester, NH in the early 1950’s. While in Manchester he began publishing a technical journal for the tire retreading and repair industry, Retreader’s Journal, a monthly publication that achieved a national and international circulation of over 3,000. In 1954, the Central States Retreaders’ Association hired Edwards as their managing director. Shortly thereafter, the name was changed to the American Retreaders’ Association, which he co-founded. Edwards managed the ARA from 1954 to 1968, during which time the ARA’s annual Tire Retreading Conference and Trade Show drew upwards of 10,000 attendees at the three-day show. In 1968, Edwards became involved with the founding of the International Rubber Industries – a corporation that amongst its products produced and manufactured tire retreading equipment, rubber mixing and extruding equipment; the testing of new tires for the US government and equipment, tested and manufactured the world’s first all-steel automobile car tire. The IRI was eventually phased out in the late 1970’s and with Edwards extensive engineering and manufacturing background, he launched the final days of his forty-year career in the tire industry by becoming one of the nation’s leading tire failure analysts and expert witness on product liability litigation. In 1996 Edwards was elected into the Tire Association Hall of Fame. Finally, he created Edwards Photo, which was in operation for over 25 years in the heart of St. Matthews. His life enjoyments included fly-fishing, golf and dreaming of his days as a pilot. He was preceded in death by his wife, Stephanie and is survived by his three daughters, Lynn Vasil and husband, George, Carrie Insley and Gayle Hickey and husband, Peter; step-children, Christopher Sparks, Gregory Sparks and wife, Laura and Elizabeth Wood and husband, David; grandchildren, Stephanie and husband, Billy, Candace Brook, Jordan, Aaron, Erica, Heather, Shane, Miles and Sarah and two great grandchildren, Kaiyah and Kadin. His wife of 28 years, Margo B. Rhodes Edwards and daughter, Paula Thompson and husband, Randy who lovingly cared for him in his final years, also survives him. A funeral mass will be on Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Oak Hill, WV with Father Paul Yuenger officiating. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church. A memorial mass will be held in Louisville, KY, George's home for 40 years at Holy Spirit on Lexington Road on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at 2:00 PM with Father Thomas Boland officiating. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made to Hospice of Southern West Virginia, PO Box 1472, Beckley WV 25802 or the Altzheimers Association, 1111 Lee Street East, Charleston WV 25301.