James A. Edwards

James A. Edwards, 88, of Hendersonville, died on Saturday, August 11, 2012.

A native of Detroit, MI he was born on August 24, 1923. He attended Michigan Tech until 1943 when he joined the United States Army Air Corps becoming a P-51 fighter pilot and gunnery instructor.

He was honorable discharged in 1945 and attended the University of Michigan where he earned a degree in business administration in 1948. Upon graduation he went to work at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance and worked his way up to General Agent where he headed up the Agency in Detroit, then Troy, MI.

He was always active in serving his community and was a member of the Lions Club, Rotary, and served as a member of the guardian ad litem group and SCORE in Hendersonville. He also enjoyed his role as mediator and one of the community advisors who visited various nursing homes in Hendersonville.

He loved hunting and fishing at the Pere Marquette Rod and Gun Club and golf where he was a member at Detroit Golf Club, then Kenmure and Hendersonville Country Club.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Lee; a son, Stephen "Steve" and his wife, Andrea of Hendersonville; a daughter, Amy and her husband, Mark of Irving, TX; a son, James Andrew and his wife, Lisa of Waterford, MI. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Scott Edwards, James Guyer, Daniel Guyer, Julia Guyer, Steffany LaBo and Heath Little; his great-grandchildren, Abby and Tradd Edwards, Karalina and Annika Guyer, Maya Little and Savannagh and Isabella LaBo and his brother, Tom Edwards of San Francisco.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30AM on Saturday, August 18, 2012, at St. John in the Wilderness with Reverend John A. Morton officiating.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.