Walter Vaughn Edwards, age 87, died on September 22, 2015. A resident of Plano since 1976, he was born to Walter Floyd Edwards and Mattie Mae Gautney on July 21, 1928 near McKinney, Texas as the youngest of seven children. A 1946 graduate of Boyd High School, Walter served an enlistment in the United States Army before returning to work as a jeweler and X-ray technician in McKinney. On May 10, 1951 he received an appointment to the United States Border Patrol, a branch of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Walter’s family would tell you that he “found his niche”, loved his work and thrived on a challenge. He served at various duty posts on both the southern border and northern border before his appointment as District Director of the Denver district in 1973. Walter retired from the Dallas Regional Office on March 23, 1979 as the Associate Regional Commissioner for Enforcement. He was a licensed realtor and was associated with Posey Properties of Plano from 1979 until his death. Walter was a Baptist, having been baptized into the faith at age 21. He was active in the Fraternal Order of Retired Border Patrol Officers where he served as a Director and Chairman of the Board. Walter also served on the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Border Patrol Museum and Memorial Library in El Paso. He was very active in the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARF) and held various offices in Chapter #1273 serving Richardson and Plano. Walter also enjoyed volunteering for 11 years at the Medical Center of Plano.
He is survived by his wife, Annetta Jane Edwards of Plano, Texas; son, Gary M. Edwards of Colleyville, Texas; daughters, Karen Elaine Santiago and husband Manny of McKinney, Texas and Meri Beth Bradberry and husband William of Magnolia, Texas; grandchildren, Brendan Walter Edwards and A. Wood of Grapevine, Texas, James Cory Edwards and wife Megan of Germantown, Maryland, Kyle Belden Crist and wife Faith of McKinney, Texas, Blake Alan Crist and fiancée Elizabeth DiNatale of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Stefani Ann Schulte of Conroe, Texas, Miranda Elizabeth Schulte of Magnolia, Texas and Eric Liam Bradberry of Magnolia, Texas; great- grandchildren, Matthew, Joshua, Liam, Kevin, and Karalee; sister, Doris Olean Eads of Ft. Worth, Texas; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, James Alan Edwards; daughter-in-law, LuAnn Edwards and five siblings; Lesil Wayne Edwards, Elsie Mae Edwards, G. A. Edwards, Edgar F. Edwards, and Suzie Montez Williams.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel in Allen, Texas. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation Saturday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family suggests memorials in Walter’s honor to the non-profit entity of your choice or the United States Border Patrol Museum and Memorial Library Foundation 4315 Trans Mountain Drive, El Paso, TX 79924-3753.