Ralph Reid Edwards

Ralph Reid Edwards, 86 Edwards Groves Lakeland " Ralph Reid Edwards, 86, was born in Lakeland, FL on May 23, 1926 and passed away on July 15, 2012 due to bladder cancer. Ralph started in the fruit business with his father at age 14, labeling boxes. After graduation from Lakeland High School in January, 1944, he enrolled in the Navy V-5 pilot training program but later switched to the V-12 program. After studying at Emory University, the University of Miami, and Georgia Tech in mechanical engineering, he spent six months in active service in an amphibious outfit in European Theater. After the war, he married and joined the family citrus business, Edwards, Prichett, & Tillis, and finally Edwards Groves Inc. in the 1950s. In 1959, Ralph completed his B.S. degree at Florida Southern College and decided to move his family to Texas to pursue a M.S. degree in Religious Education from South Western Baptist Theological Seminary. Soon after graduation the citrus freeze of 1962 happened and his father asked him to return to Florida to help rehabilitate the family citrus groves damaged by the freeze. The Edwards Groves citrus interests were later sold and Ralph became a partner with Jessie Montgomery in Monty Associates, Building Contractors. After some years as an avid ""rock hound"" he and his wife Lynn, joined with Jessie Montgomery and wife Vergie, in building and operating or Gem rocks Lepiolory Supply House. In 1981, that business was sold and not quite ready to retire, he worked until 1993 in two environmental firms, Imperial Testing Laboratories and TRAC Environmental Services. Retiring at 70 years, he and Lynn moved to the family home place in North Lakeland, where his parents had lived many years. He spent the remainder of his days at home, taking care of his six acre yard and three cats. Ralph is preceded in death by his brother, Arthur Tillis Edwards, and parents, A.T. Edwards, Sr. and Jessie G. Edwards. He is survived by his wife, Lynn D. Edwards, three sons, Jimmy R. Edwards (Patty), Birmingham, AL, Joel E. Edwards, Lakeland, FL, and Gary R. Edwards, Polk City, FL, daughter, Susan E. Gould (Preston), Lakeland, FL, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a step-son, John Walker. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 from 5-7 pm at Heath Funeral Chapel. Services will be held on Thursday, July 19, 2012 11:00 am. Graveside at Lakeland Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL, 33823. Service: 07/19/2012 Lakeland Memorial Gardens - graveside service Heath Funeral Chapel Visitation: 06/18/2012 Heath Funeral Chapel