James L. Edwards

James Llewellyn Edwards Jr., age 91, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, passed September 21, 2013, at Colonial Manor in Columbus Junction with his daughter Carolyn by his side. Graveside services will be held 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 25th at the Cambrian Cemetery in rural Columbus Junction, Iowa. Military honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29 will be accorded. Memorials have been established for Colonial Manor in Columbus Junction.Online condolences may be sent for James’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Born November 4, 1921, he was the son of James Llewellyn and Lillian (Owens) Edwards. He had two older sisters Gayle and Mary. He attended Cotter School and at age 21 he volunteered and joined his friends and neighbors in the War to remember. He was with I company in the 377th regiment in the 95th infantry division. James was a private 1st class signalman and attached to the regiments cannon company as part of the crew which laid wire for telephone communications, from the advanced positions back to the boys with the 105mm howitzers. The 95th had gone onto the beaches on D-Day with General Patton and his Third Army. James and his buddies slogged along most of the way to Normandy to Metz. He helped lay enough wire to string from the beach to the beautiful old church of Metz. Metz was a center for Nazi activity in that part of northern France and Patton wanted that town. The 377th went out and got it. At a meeting of the City Council of Metz on December 12, 1944, they decided a medal should be struck to commemorate the Liberation of Metz. It was decided the medal would be similar to the one Verdun struck during World War I. James received his medal, while he remembered the rain of France, the people of Metz remembered the brave men of the 377th. James also received the Bronze Star for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy during the Rhineland campaign in the European Theater. The was was cut short by the A bomb and James returned home. He went back to his family’s farm in Iowa, met and married Louise Moothart of Washington. She came to him with two small girls, Carolyn, age 6, and Cheryl age 4. In 1951 he had a daughter, Carletta and a few years later a son, James Llewellyn III. James lived and worked in Washington, Iowa. He worked at the American Pearl Button Factory and the McCleery Cumming Calendar Factory. He and his family moved to Danville, Iowa, where he worked at the Army Ammunitions Plant. He retired and after his wife of 50 years passed, he went to live with his daughter Carolyn in Washington State. He loved baseball, especially the St. Louis Cardinals, and baseball and baseball!!! Cherry pie and any other sport. He played first base and pitcher for his Cotter School. He also played ball with his Army buddies and a little when he was helping raise four children. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose for over 25 years, and was a member of his local V.F.W. and American Legion Post. James is survived by three daughters and one son; Carolyn Brown of Columbus Junction, Iowa; Cheryl Bonebright and husband Jim of Danville, Illinois; Carletta Evans of Manhatten, Kansas and James L. Edwards and wife Sandy of Washington, Iowa. He also has 13 grandchildren and 12 great grand children. His sister, Mary Holmes, age 97, resides at Colonial Manor in Columbus Junction. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 2001, one grandson in 1987 and one sister Gayle (Edwards) Rotter. His easy smile and his favorite saying, “Good Luck to You”, will be dearly missed.

James L. Edwards

November 4, 1921 - September 21, 2013