Dr. Robert L. Edwards

Dr. Robert Lee Edwards, 97, entered into eternal life on Sunday, July 28, 2019. Through service in the military, dedication to scholarship, education and fatherhood he epitomized the very best qualities of America's Greatest Generation.

He was born in Barnardsville, Buncombe County, North Carolina in 1922, the son of Barnard Lee Edwards and Cleopatra Cleveland Bartlett Edwards. After graduating from Barnardsville High School in 1939, he entered Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, to pursue an agricultural curriculum.

Robert's college career was interrupted by the United States' entry into the Second World War. He was called to active duty in early 1943 and underwent training to become a ground crew navigational radar specialist serving B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. He was deployed to Rackheath, Norfolk, UK in the European Theater of Operations and assigned to the 789th Squadron, 467th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Army Air Force. His efforts supported critical air strikes against the Axis war machine in Germany, France and Belgium.

Following his honorable discharge from the US Army Air Force in late 1945, Robert returned to Berea College to complete a Bachelor of Science degree, which was awarded in 1946. There he met Dorothy Elizabeth Baldwin of Fletcher, NC, to whom he was married on June 3, 1951. During the years between his graduation at Berea and Marriage, he taught Vocational Agriculture for one year in Haywood County, NC and then for five years in his home county of Buncombe (at Leicester, High School). Through the GI Bill, he subsequently enrolled at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC in 1952 where he received both a Master of Science (1954) and PhD in Animal Science (1958).

Upon completion of his PhD, Robert joined the faculty at Clemson University where he taught and conducted research for the next three decades. He participated in a number of professional organizations and in faculty advisory capacities including Block & Bridle, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He was a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a lifetime member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and served two terms as president of the local chapter. He lectured and presented research results at a number of universities across the US. His rigorous approach to scholarship was equaled only by his witty self-deprecating sense of humor. Dr. Edwards was a mentor to thousands of students and each of the graduate students he advised became an extension of his own family during their time at the University. He was an intense fan of Clemson football. He attended every home game for over fifty years, seated an arm's length from the Tigers' sideline, and ceased attendance only after his declining health made the journey to the stadium impossible.

Following his retirement in 1986, he remained engaged in a number of pursuits. He was active for five decades in the Clemson Lions Club, where he served in several official capacities (including one term as president) and was a faithful member of Clemson United Methodist Church, where he frequently volunteered. His principal hobby in free time was gardening and he tended to two large vegetable garden plots in Clemson, from which, his wife Dorothy cooked, canned, preserved and pickled a variety of crop bounties.

In retirement, he and his wife traveled often - visiting most of the continental US, Canada and Western Europe. In his later years he enjoyed the company of good books, puzzles, good friends and his family – especially his grandson, Andrew.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothy Elizabeth Edwards and his brother James Roy Edwards. He is survived by his son, John Robert Edwards (Virginia Stroud) of Greenville, SC; and a grandson, Andrew John Edwards. Other survivors include sisters-in-law, June Settle Edwards, Francis Baldwin Hoots and families of three nieces and two nephews.

Celebration of life will begin at a graveside service with military rites on Saturday morning August 3, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at Woodland Cemetery, at Clemson University, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Clemson United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the church following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that memorial gifts be made to Clemson University Historic Properties, Box 345615, Clemson, SC 29634-5714, (864) 656-2475, hisprop@clemson.edu or a charity of the donor's choice.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.RobinsonFuneralHome.com or in person at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, 108 Cross Creek Road, Central, SC.