Ada Edwards

Ada Edwards: Ada passed away Saturday evening at the Univserity of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City at the age of 98 years, 11 months and 4 days. Ada is survived by a sister, Doris Phillips of Oskaloosa; and three brothers: Lloyd Edwards of Beacon, Karl Edwards of Palm Springs, CA and Thomas Edwards of Sun Lakes, AZ; her nieces and nephews: Shanna Lund, Tom Mullen, Jim Mullen, Dorothy Mullen, Pat Kensler, Carolyn Satterlee, Tess McCulley, Emily Hart, many great nieces & nephews; great great nieces & nephews, many cousins and a host of friends. Ada Helene Edwards, daughter of Thomas H. and Anna Theresa Hjort Edwards, was born at the home of her parents in Beacon, Iowa, June 1, 1908. She was the oldest of seven children. While Ada was an infant, the family moved to Hiteman, IA, where Ada received her education. She was a 1925 graduate of Hiteman High School. She furthered her education at William Penn College in Oskaloosa, receiving her BA Degree in History and Economics with a minor in Education in 1930. Throughout her life Ada earned 60 hours of post graduate education at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee, University of Iowa and Drake University in Des Moines, IA. Following her education Ada worked as a nurse at Abbott Hospital in Oskaloosa, until a teaching position was available in 1931 in Delta, Iowa where she taught 4th and 5th grades. She transferred to the New Sharon School System in 1937, there she taught 6th ? 8th grades for 4 years. In 1941 she moved to Fairfield and took a position as principal at Logan Elementary School. She was one of the first women in Iowa to serve as a principal, a position she held for 34 years. Ada served as a substitute teacher for several years after her retirement. She stayed in Fairfield until 1993, when she returned to Oskaloosa to reside with her sister, Alta Edwards. Ada was an active volunteer and belonged to many professional and civic organizations. In her early years, she was active in the Republican Party. She was awarded the 1983 Outstanding Service Award from the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce. In 1989, she received the State of Iowa Governor's Volunteer Award from Gov. Branstad. Ada was instrumental in helping organize the Head Start program in Fairfield and the Child Abuse Council throughout Iowa; she was associated with Girl Scouts in Fairfield for 20 years. When Parson's College became Mahirishi University, Ada received two awards from the university for starting the Child Abuse Council. She served as president of the Elementary Teachers Organization. She was a member of Teachers of English Reading & Math in Fairfield, the Fairfield Education Association, the NEA, ISEA, and served as secretary for Tenco. She was the state president of the Elementary Principals Association and was president of the Retired Teachers Association and served on its legislation task force for 6 years. She belonged to Business and Professional Women, she served as president of the Women's Club and she also worked in community child care. She belonged to PEO Chapter HA in Fairfield and PEO Chapter IO in Oskaloosa, TTT Chapter E in Fairfield and Chapter CY in Oskaloosa and Chapter Rho of Delta Kappa Gamma. In Fairfield she belonged to the Presbyterian Church where she served as Elder, Deacon, Sunday school teacher, committee member of the presbytery; she was president of the women's organization and was sent as a delegate to the General Assembly in Miami. After moving to Oskaloosa, Ada became a member of the First Baptist Church. Ada loved to read and after her vision left her, she acquired books from the Iowa Blind. She also had a love for children and spent her life helping to create a better world for them. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters: Alta Edwards and Theresa Mullen; two nieces: Mary Mullen and Marilyn Funaro and a great niece, Joanie Funaro. PDF Printable Version

Ada Edwards

June 1, 1908 - May 5, 2007