James D. Edwards, 78, is Dead
James D. Edwards, 78, longtime and well known Estherville businessman, died today about 10:40 a.m. at Holy Family Hospital where he was taken Tuesday after having suffered a stroke. Mr. Edwards had been in failing health for about a year.

He is survived by his second wife; 10 living children, five sons, Marvin and Gene, both of Estherville; Hamilton, Chevy Chase, Md.; Douglas Griffith, Ind.; and Maurice, Mesa, Ariz.; five daughters, Mrs. Marion (Edna) Wroten of Jordan Valley, Ore.; Mrs. Jack (Jeannette) Howard, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Earl E. (Marie) Reed of Van Nuys, Calif.; Mrs. Orlin (Alice) Elwood of Pacoima, Calif., and Mrs. Elma (Doris) Jensen of Ringsted; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Also surviving is a brother, Brett, who lives in California.

He was preceded in death by his first wife and two sons, Miles and James.

Funeral services for Mr. Edwards are pending at Reese Funeral Home. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 7, 1964)




Edwards Rites To Be Thursday
Funeral services for James Dowling Edwards, 77, who died Monday [December 7, 1964] at 11:45 a.m. at Holy Family Hospital, are to be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the First Methodist Church, the Rev. William R. Nolan officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Reese Funeral Home after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday until Thursday noon, at which time the body will be taken to the church where friends may call until the time of the service.

Born Nov. 17, 1887, on a farm near Vinton in Benton County, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Edwards. He received his education in the Benton county and Vinton schools.

He was married in 1903 to Maude Baker at Oelwein. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards lived first at Brainerd, Minn.; where he was employed by Great Northern Railway. In 1910, they moved to Estherville and Mr. Edwards was employed by the Rock Island as a brakeman.

Following an injury to his foot, he discontinued his work on the Rock Island and became operator-owner of a livery stable and feed barn where the City Hall is now located. He later operated a garage filling station and trucking firm at the present site of P. G. Gray Produce.

After that he operated a warehouse storage and used furniture business here for a number of years. Mrs. Edwards died in 1950.

On Nov. 1, 1954, Mr. Edwards and Dora Esmann were married at Jackson, Minn.

Mr. Edwards, along with his other work drove a school bus for the Estherville schools for 30 years, 1923-1955.

He was a member of the Methodist church, and of the B. P. O. Elks.

Surviving his death are his wife; five daughters, Mrs. Marvin (Edna) Wroten, Jordan Valley, Ore.; Mrs. Jack (Jeanette) Howard, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Earl E. (Marie) Reed, Van Nuys, Calif.; Mrs. Elmer (Doris) Jensen, Ringsted; and Mrs. Orlin (Alice) Elwood, Pacoima, Calif., five sons, Hamilton of Washington, D.C.; Douglas of Griffith, Ind.; Marvin and Gene of Estherville; and Maurice of Mesa, Ariz.; 29 grandchildren. 19 great-grandchildren and one brother Brett Edwards of Long Beach, Calif.

Preceding him in death were his first wife, two sons Miles and James, and his parents. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, Iowa, December 8, 1964)