Jack Edwards, Sr.

Jack Edwards was an intelligent and loyal member of his community. He cared deeply for the people around him and reached out to make the world a better place for everyone. Jack also loved his family and worked hard to provide for them.

The year 1929 was a difficult year for most Americans. That was the year the stock market crashed, triggering the beginning of the Great Depression. But in the entertainment arena, 1929 was the year the classic, "African Queen" was released and also the year jet airliner passenger services began.

For John Henry Edwards and Jeanette Michener Edwards, the excitement of the year was the birth of their son, Jack L. Edwards, born December 17, 1929. John and Jeanette had a son, John, born to them a few years earlier, but, after six short days he died unexpectedly from SIDS. They were so grateful for the healthy birth of their beautiful, baby boy, Jack. He was now their only child and they took great care of him.

Jack was born at home at 2833 N. New Jersey Street, in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father, John, was a plumber and started his own business, Edwards & Son Plumbing. Jack was the son and Jack’s mother, Jeanette, helped run the company. Jack learned a lot from his parents and enjoyed working beside his father.

As a kid, Jack and his good friend, Marvin Pike, spent hours together designing parachutes. Marvin was the parachute tester, and after Jack completed the design, Marvin willingly jumped out of trees with the chutes on his back. On nice days, Jack was known to hide his gun under the school window and when he had a chance, he jumped out of the window, grabbed his gun and spent the rest of the day hunting in the woods.

Jack attended Carmel High School and graduated with the rest of the 26 seniors in his class in 1947. As an adult, he contributed to the Carmel High School Alumni Association Scholarship, was inducted into the Carmel High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2001 and into the Carmel High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004.

After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve for four years. During that time, he met a beautiful young woman working at a sweet shop. Her name was Janet Davidson and after meeting her, his life was changed forever. The two sweethearts fell in love and a year after he became a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Jack married Janet there. They were officially married on December 29, 1950. The couple made a home together in Home Place, Indiana and that was the area Jack remained in his entire life. Jack’s service of duty with the U.S. Naval Reserve was extended one additional year and he was honorably discharged in 1953.

Jack and Janet were blessed with four wonderful children during their marriage. Julie Ann, Jo Lynn, Jack and John were all protected under Jack’s loving care. None of them were allowed to begin bike riding on the road until they could recite all 15 bike rules. Jack enjoyed being around all of his children and had much knowledge and love to share with them. Jack took time to enjoy special meals with his children out on the town. Going out to eat was a special treat and some of his favorite foods were chocolate chip cookies, apple cider, candy corn, Earl Grey tea and caffeine free diet Pepsi.

During Jack’s many years as a husband and father he held many positions. He worked at Rock Island Refinery, Herff Jones Company, Davidson-Pegg Plumbing & Heating (owned by his in-laws), co-owner of (his father’s company )Edwards & Son, Inc, State of Indiana (BMV), Co-owner with Janet of Edwards Little Emporium, Home Place Repair Shop and over twenty years of driving school bus for Carmel Clay Schools. Jack enjoyed participating in the Hamilton County School Bus Rodeo each year and finished first place in 1989 and 1991. He retired from bus driving in 1996. Jack brilliantly invented and held a patent on a pump and an alarm control and he was a Licensed Master Plumber and a Programmer & Systems Analyst.

Jack had the gift of organizing and when he wasn’t providing for his family, he was helping the community. He served on the building committee for the Clay Township Government Center, he was the co-founder of the Home Place-Clay Township Library and Museum, and a Founding board member of the Clay Township Regional Waste District. He established the Home Place-Clay Township Library & Museum Archives and Archival Policy and was a member of many community societies.

Jack loved to serve. He was actively involved in the upkeep and maintenance for the Farley Cemetery and the Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. He worked hard to get Pleasant Grove cleaned up, fenced and landmarked with a large bronze plaque dedicating it.

From the beginning of his marriage, Jack had a calm spirit and he took time to write in his journal daily, documenting his log in time precisely, to the second. He rarely missed a day of journal entry and openly shared his daily events, happenings with his children and even grandchildren.

Journals were not all that Jack enjoyed writing. He was a talented writer, and a knowledgeable historian and genealogist. Jack took time to coauthor and publish, "A View of Home Place, Indiana," (1992) "Home Place Indiana an Introduction," (1997) "Pleasant Grove Cemetery," (2002) "A History of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church" and many other historic papers.

Jack and Janet spent a lot of their time together doing things they both enjoyed. They both loved to shop at flea markets and even owned a booth together once. They also loved wild flowers and planted many of them around their home. The fragrant flowers enticed many beautiful birds and Jack and Janet observed them dancing about the flowers along with the feisty squirrels in the neighborhood. Jack had two hound dogs at home, Sam and Gus, that he took great care of as well.

Jack had a good life with his family, friends and neighbors. He did not take life lightly and he learned how to enjoy the little things life had to offer. His legacy of dedication to those around him will live on. Jack will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.

Jack L. Edwards, Sr., died on Saturday, May 7, 2005. Survivers include his children, Julie Ann Edwards Sole (Jack), Jo Lynn Johnson, Jack L Edwards, Jr. (Brenda), and John R. Edwards (Kathy); grandchildren, Gabriel Edwards (Michelle), Jason Sole (Kim), Cincy Edwards, Jabal Sole, Eli Spicer, Jelsea Sole, Jake Spicer, Matt Edwards; Great grandchild, Kaya Edwards; and Sister in Law, Sheryl "Annie" Rhash. He was preceded in death by his wife of many years, Janet Davidson Edwards.

To learn more about Jack’s life, friends may visit with his family from 4:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. on Wednesday in Leppert Life Story Funeral Home, Smith Carmel Chapel. Funeral services will be on Thursday at 10:00a.m. in the funeral home. Please visit Jack’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory, order flowers online, or make a memorial contribution to Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church or the Carmel-Clay Historical Society.