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Randall Edwards Obituary
June 14, 1947 - June 1, 2022
Olympia, Washington - Randy Edwards was born June 14, 1947, to Marland Edwards and Naomi Miethke Edwards in Tacoma, Washington. He grew up in Fife-Milton. Randy went to Olympia High School his Junior and Senior years and then to Centralia JC for 2 years. In 1967 he transferred to WWU in Bellingham where he majored in Elementary Education. He married Anne Schlichting in June of 1969 and in September, Lincoln Elementary in Olympia became his permanent teaching home for 40 years. Randy taught 5th grade and loved sharing different learning strategies and ways to make each student feel important and accepted on every level of performance and accomplishment. He coached in and was President of the local Little Baseball Association for many years. He especially enjoyed coaching his daughters' softball teams and his son's baseball team.
Randy was also a referee for high school wrestling matches and spent 40 years as a high school Football Official in Thurston and other local counties where he met many life-long friends.
After his retirement from Lincoln he taught PE for 10 years at the Olympia Regional Learning Academy.
Randy loved teaching, the teachers and coaches he worked with, and the children and parents he grew to know through the years.
Randy is survived by his wife Anne and their three children and seven grandchildren: Brooke Van Berkum (Tom) have Bryce, Ellie, Lance, and Luke. Caitlin Beasley (Ben) has Skyler Bodin, and Ben Edwards (Lee Johanna) have Emily and Johanna. Also surviving him are two brothers, Duane Edwards(Jenny) and Steve Edwards(Lesley) and sister Janetta Westlund(Jerry) and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Randy knew no strangers and regularly recognized former students and parents by their eyes. Randy died on June 1st 2022 after a brief battle with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. Donations may be made to The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound to support the Randy Edwards Memorial Scholarship Fund for college-bound seniors at Olympia HS. Address: 212 Union Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501, or sent to the family home address.
There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial Service at 2:00 on Sunday, September 11th, 2022, in the Olympia High School Gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Memorial Scholarship Fund mentioned above.
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Memories and Condolences
for Randall Edwards
4 Entries
Judy Essman
June 24, 2025
Pat my sister and I were looking up family members and ran into this Obituary. So sorry to hear of Randy´s passing. They all used to come to our house for Halloween many years in a row. Our late condolences go out to his brothers and sister. Hope you all are doing well. Judy and Pat Essman (Allen)
April 16, 2025
He was a good teacher.
Ed Redifer
April 9, 2024
I knew Randy from his first year teaching at Lincoln Elementary School. I was a student who probably tried his patience but he was a great teacher who could channel that energy to the good. I ran into him over the years as he was a softball umpire, a football referee, he was a golfer at Capital City, etc. and he always remembered our first interactions. RIP Randy, you were influential in my life and one of the good guys!
Jeff Caldwell
July 4, 2022
I first remember Randy from him playing softball with my dad (Jim) in the 70s and then officiating football with him for over 20 years. He was always a pleasure to be around Randy and his energy. He will be missed.
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