Herbert J. "Bert" Edwards

CORINTH * Herbert J. "Bert" Edwards, 90, a longtime resident of Hamilton Avenue, passed away Tuesday, April 10, 2007, at Tidelands Community Hospice House in Georgetown, S.C.

Born Sept. 19, 1916, in Yonkers, he was the son of the late Richard and Josephine (O'Donnell) Edwards.

Mr. Edwards graduated from Sacred Hearts High School in North Yonkers in 1935 and graduated from Manhattan College in 1941 with a B.A. in business administration and education.

He joined the United States Navy on April 22, 1942, serving in Naval Intelligence, and upon graduation from Officers Training School in 1944, became a mid-shipman, and was assigned to anti-submarine warfare in San Juan, Puerto Rico for one year. In August of 1945, he was assigned to the Pacific Theater until his discharge on Nov. 2, 1945.

Mr. Edwards married Claire P. Kelley on Sept. 5, 1942, in Yonkers. The couple resided in Yonkers for a few years before moving to Glens Falls and eventually to Corinth, were they lived for more than 50 years. She died July 30, 2001, following 58 years of marriage.

He was employed for International Paper Co. in Glens Falls and in Corinth as the assistant to the director of industrial relations and personnel for 32 years until his retirement in 1977.

Mr. Edwards was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Brookhaven Golf Club in Greenfield, serving as president of the OB Beyer Recreation Park. Upon its completion, he served from many years as manager of operations of the golf course until his retirement in 2000.

He was a communicant of the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Corinth for many years, was a member of the Knights of Columbus for several years, served as a church trustee for 16 years, and formed the Holy Name Society, serving as president for five years.

Mr. Edwards served as president of Employee Mutual Benefit Association, helped to organize the Hudson River Federal Credit Union and was a member of the IP Quarter Century Club.

He was a member of the Corinth Central School Board of Eduction for seven years, served as president of the Parent Teachers Association, director of the Corinth Scholarship Fund, was a member of the Corinth Little League and member and president of the Corinth Civic Club.

Mr. Edwards was also active with the American Red Cross, serving as director for Warren County, served as director of Governor Rockefeller's New York State Traffic Safety Council, served on the New York State Hospital Review and Planning Board and on the upper Hudson Region Comprehensive Health Planning Organization, a federal agency, as president for two years.

He was an avid golfer and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

Besides his wife and his parents, one granddaughter, Heather Schoeck, a brother, John Edwards; a sister, Mary Gonda, and two half brothers, Michael and Edward Nugent, all died before him.

Survivors include two sons, Michael J. Edwards and his wife, Shiela of Georgetown, S.C., and Dr. Gerald P. Edwards and his wife, Wendy, of Cazenovia; two daughters, Teresa P. Schoeck of Portland, Ore., and Colette P. Podwszwa and her husband, Peter, of Somerset, N.J.; six grandchildren: Lisa Johnson and her husband, Christopher, of Marietta, Ga., Michael Edwards Jr. of Atlanta, Ga., Daniel Edwards of Atlanta, Ga., Brian Schoeck of Portland, Ore., Claire K. Edwards and Anna R. Edwards of Cazenovia; one stepgrandson, Joseph Bono of Cazenovia; two great-grandchildren, Gabrielle and Erin Johnson of Marietta, Ga.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 406 Palmer Ave., Corinth, with the Rev. Charles Gaffigan, pastor, officiating.

A Rite of Committal will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery, Corinth.

Friends may call from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Densmore Funeral Home, Inc., 7 Sherman Ave., Corinth.

Members of the Horace D. Washburn American Legion Post 533 will conduct a service at 8 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home.

The family suggests that memorial go to the Building Fund at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 406 Palmer Ave., Corinth, NY 12822.