Ronald Barry "Roni" Edwards

MATTOON - Ronald Barry "Roni" Edwards, 52, of Mattoon, IL passed away at 7:50 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the Danville Veterans Administration Hospital in Danville, IL. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 2, 2004 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main Street in Arcola, IL. Rev. Lloyd Johnson will officiate. Burial with full military rites conducted by the Oakland VFW post 3637 will be in the Arcola Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 1, 2004 at the funeral home. Roni was born August 4, 1951 in Mattoon, IL. He was a son of Donald A. and Mary Elizabeth (Booth) Edwards. He married Peggy Claxon on October 11, 1994 in Arcola, IL. Survivors include his wife, Peggy Edwards, of Mattoon, IL; one son, Troy R. Edwards and his fiancé Jessica Schultz of Longview, TX; one daughter, Coryn P. Edwards of Glendale, AZ; one step-son Mick Bales and his wife, Erica, of Champaign, IL; two step-daughters, Jodi Bales of Charlotte, NC and Melissa Thompson and her husband, Kevin, of Honolulu, HI; his mother, Mary E. Edwards of Arcola, IL; one brother, Donald A. Edwards Jr. and his wife, Kerrie, of Arcola, IL; one sister, Dorinda Prince and her husband, Mike, of Urbana, IL and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father, a son, Travis Edwards and a brother, Bobby Edwards. Ronnie graduated from Cortez High School in Phoenix, AZ. He was a Supply Sgt. in the Army National Guard. He was a Life member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, a board member for SAIL inc. of Charleston, IL and a member of Broadway Christian Church in Mattoon, IL. Roni was a wiz with the computer. He enjoyed painting sun-catchers, and listening to music. He was a Dallas Cowboy fan, a John Wayne fan and he collected Eagles. He especially enjoyed visiting with family and friends. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made for spinal cord research, the American Diabetes Association or the Arcola Public Library. Obituary written by family members