Viola Gertrude Edwards

Viola Gertrude Edwards, 93, of Bolivar passed away Friday, September 11, 2015 at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar. She was one of 3 children born to Jesse Monroe and Viola May Rector. Viola led an adventuresome life. As a young child her parents took her by covered wagon to homestead near Gunnison, Colorado. Her family then moved to the Wakita area of Oklahoma where her grandparents had participated in the Oklahoma Territory land rush of 1889. The family eventually settled near Collins, MO where Viola graduated from high school as a member of the Class of 1939. Upon graduating, Viola took a train to Montana where she worked on a cattle ranch. Subsequently, she traveled on to Oregon where she briefly resided and worked in the logging industry before making her way back to Kansas City where she worked during WW II in the wartime factories. Working on the precision assembly of bomb sights, she was mentioned in a historical book as being included as one of the storied Rosie s Riveters. She married William Edwards on December 3, 1945 and made their home in the Kansas City area where they raised their family. Her first husband William passed away December 30, 2003 in San Diego, CA. Viola worked as a cosmetologist, as a dental assistant, and as an LPN at various times in her life. She moved to Bolivar in the early 1970's and has lived there the past 40+ years. Viola enjoyed her flower gardens and loved all kinds of animals. She adopted many stray cats and even the neighbors peacock named George. Viola was preceded in death by her parents; husband William; brothers Jesse John Rector of Dublin, CA and Charles Ray Rector of Centre, AL. She is survived by sons William Monroe Edwards of Mason, Ohio and Daniel Ray Edwards of San Diego, California; grandson Jason William Edwards; granddaughters Sheridan Nicole Edwards and Louisa Claire Harper; great-grandchildren Colin Monroe Harper, Liam John Edwards and Grant Jason Edwards. Funeral services for Viola Gertrude Edwards will be Thursday, September 17th at 11 AM at the Murray Funeral Home in Humansville, MO followed by burial in the Robinson Cemetery east off Collins, MO. Services will be conducted by her nephew, Minister Alan Todd of the Timber Lake Christian Church in Moberly, MO. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Polk County Humane Society, P.O. Box 334, Bolivar, MO 65613. Online condolences may be submitted at www.murrayfuneralhomes.com. PDF Printable Version

Viola Gertrude Edwards

January 27, 1922 - September 11, 2015