Melva D. Edwards

Melva Don Edwards, 88, passed away peacefully on the 20th day of December 2018. A gathering of family and friends will be held at 12pm on the 26th day of December, 2018, at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street in Des Moines. Family will greet visitors two hours prior to the service. The internment will follow at the Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville, IA

Melva was born October 24, 1930 in Harvey, Iowa to John “Benny” and Glady Cox. She went to school in Harvey where she enjoyed playing basketball and softball. She then transferred to Knoxville where she involved herself more in academics and after school work. After she graduated high school she worked for Maytag and played on the company basketball and softball and bowling teams. She married her beloved husband, Merrill “Eddie” Edwards, from Knoxville in 1953. They moved to Des Moines soon after where she started to work at “Davidson’s department Store” and the telephone company in 1953. In 1954 they moved to the Des Moines Southside where they lived, loved, raised their family, and enjoyed spending time with their friends.

In August of 1955 they had their son, Gary; in December, 1957 a daughter Janet; and in August 1959 they had another son, Mark.

Before Melva returned to the workforce she enrolled her children in the Des Moines Public School System and the great Southside schools. She passed her love for academics and sports on to her children, always encouraging them to do and be the best they could. Then in the Mid-1970s, Melva went to work for the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association (IADA) and supervised the forms department until 1989. Leaving there she went to The Batten Group as office manager and assisted Mr. Joe Battan in writing several of his best-selling “Tough Minded….” book series’ then retiring in 1994.

Melva was a good friend to all who knew her, hugged her, shared smiles, laughter and conversation over a cup of coffee. She was clearly a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Glady Cox; her husband, Merrill Edwards; her brother Cyrus Cox; and her son, Gary Edwards.

Melva is survived by her daughter, Janet Edwards-Ashley and daughter-in-law, Vert Ashley; granddaughter, Danielle Schumann; grandson, Michael Ashley; son, Mark Edwards; granddaughter, Courtney Edwards; niece, Lisa Manley (Mark); nephew, Bret Cox (Kyle), as well as many, many other nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be directed toward the family in loving memory of Melva.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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