Allen Neal Edwards

1929 - 2021

Allen Neal Edwards
November 3, 1929 - March 18, 2021
Prosser, Washington - Allen Neal Edwards, Age 91
Healthy and happy to the end Allen played his last domino on 18 March 2021 shortly after a non-Covid related medical condition.
Born on 3 November 1929 in Skiatook, Oklahoma, where he lived with his parents and four prankster brothers until joining the U.S. Navy in 1949. On his first leave after bootcamp, Allen returned to Skiatook, and after one date instantly fell in love. On 1 May 1950 married his to be, lifelong sweetheart, Viola "Carolyn" Van Winkle from Stinnett, TX. They would remain married for 54 years and raise 4 children and 25+ Grand/Great Grandkids before her untimely death in 2004.
Allen loved adventure and travel. During his Navy career as Parachute Rigger he logged over 500 jumps. In 1956 he deployed aboard the USS Shangri-La CVA-38 aircraft carrier and toured the Pacific. He "Wintered Over" twice as part of the VX-6 Para Rescue Jump Team, in support of Operation "DEEP FREEZE" 1960-62 at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. His 20-year military career included service commendations for WWII, Korean War and the Vietnam conflict.
After four kids born in four different states, in the early 1960's, Allen moved his family just outside Prosser Washington , where he lived for the next 60+ years.
After his retirement from the Navy, Allen worked at Prosser Packers for 5 years before earning his union Journeyman "Pipe Fitter" certification and started his second 20+ year career traveling the US, finally settling at Hanford Nuclear facility where he remained a lifelong active union member.
Raised in a Southern Baptist family, Allen loved his church family and held tight to his religious beliefs throughout his life. He was a founding member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Prosser where he remained active until his death.
A devoted family man, his greatest joy was being surrounded by family & friends. He enjoyed social activities especially playing competitive card games and dominos. He loved to laugh and giggle while telling his own stories over and over and over. He had a passion for hunting and fishing and the gatherings at the Edwards/Van Winkle family cabin in Winthrop. Always a generous man, he was known for going to great extremes to "pick-up the check", pull a prank, or tell a good joke, and he loved to eat…everything except tomatoes which was a lifelong running joke.
Preceded in death by his Wife of 54 years, Viola "Carolyn" Van Winkle, Daughter Vickie Edwards, Grandchildren Lucas Edwards, and Madison Searcy.
Survived by three of his children, Jerry, Danny, Donna and their spouses. Ten grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family request you randomly pay for someone's dinner and tell them it's from "Allen". He would love that. A "Celebration of Life" for Allen is planned on 1 May 2021.