Eugene "Bill" Edwards

Bill was born on April 21, 1925 on a farm near Bentonville, Arkansas to parents Oscar and Elsie Pierce Edwards.  Bill graduated from Bentonville High School in 1942 and joined the United States Marine Corps in December 1942, serving until 1945.  He was a Communication Specialist serving with the 5th Amphibious Corps. Signal Battalion in the Pacific Theater.

When he returned to Arkansas in 1946 he married his childhood friend, Perneiche Alice Hobbs.  To this union were born four sons, William O. (Bill) Edwards in 1948, Richard L. Edwards in 1950, Jerry O. Edwards in 1958 and Stephen E. Edwards in 1958.

Bills career in radio and television broadcasting started as a baby when his food bowl had the picture of a boy with headphones listening to a Crystal Radio. Next was a Crystal Set, National Youth Administration Radio Class in high school, Communications in the Marine Corps, and Chief Engineer of Radio and Television Stations.  He joined Gates Radio Company in Quincy, Illinois in 1957 as Manager of Transmitter Sales.  Bill helped to take the company to worldwide leadership in high power radio, television and shortwave transmitters.

Bill was an active church member.  He helped in the founding of two Baptist churches in Bella Vista, Arkansas and the Sunday Morning worship service at Azalea Trace in Pensacola, Florida.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Elsie Edwards; wife, Perneiche Alice (Hobbs) Edwards; sons, Jerry O. and Stephen Edwards.  He is survived by his wife, Carmen Wright Edwards; two sons, William O. (Bill) and his wife, Marge Edwards and Richard L. Edwards, 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, March 18, 2022 at Azalea Trace Auditorium in Pensacola, FL. Dedication of his cremains will take place at Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church at 4:00 pm on Friday.