James Shultz Edson

James S. "Jim" Edson, age 86, 370 Main St., Benton, died suddenly at his home on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 and was pronounced dead at 9:15 a. m. He had been battling Parkinson's Disease and prostate cancer for many years. He was a third generation owner of the Charles A. Edson & Sons Plumbing, Electrical and Heating business in Benton until retiring in 1988.

Born in Benton on March 25, 1923, he was the only child of the late Frank Laubach and Ruth M. (Shultz) Edson. He was a lifelong resident of Benton, graduating from Benton High School in 1941 and attended Penn State University where he studied mechanical engineering. At Penn State he played on the soccer team.

Jim served with the US Navy during World War II, from 1943 to 1946, in the South Pacific as a Chief Motor Machinist Mate.

He married the former Lillian A. Yost on March 30, 1946 at the Benton Presbyterian Church in a double wedding with Lillian's sister, Betty Jane and Ensign Lester Trout. Jim and Lillian were married for 52 years before her death on February 1, 1998.

Jim was a member of the Benton United Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder and for many years turned on the heat for Sunday services and made sure the walks were shoveled when it snowed.. He also belonged to the Painter Den Hunting Club; Fort Rickett's Post 8317, VFW; and a life member of the Bloomsburg Elks Club 436. At Painter Den, he alone planted more than 100 oak and apple trees to feed the deer and to leave something that would outlive him.

For many years he was an active member of the Benton Fire Company and had also served on the Benton Town Council. He and Kenneth Kelsey developed a property in the West Creek section of Benton Township and a road in the development, Kelsey-Edson Road, is named for them. Jim and Ken also built the ambulance building that was attached to the old town hall, hauling truckloads of insulation from Harrisburg.

Jim was a private pilot and loved such trips as flying to Maine to bring home fresh lobster. Having a subtle, but lively sense of humor, Jim once staged a jump out of a small plane at a family reunion. He kept fit over the years with hard work, by playing tennis and walking. He guided, with patience and love, his seven children through learning to drive and saw that each went on to higher education. Cherished advice from him was to be happy and nurture friendships with siblings. To his immediate and extended family and to the community, Jim was a genuine giver of care.

Jim shared life with Patricia Boyle for ten years in Benton, many enjoyed trips to Sea Isle, N.J., San Blas, Florida, LST Reunions and on other driving trips. She is currently a patient at the Millville Health Care Center, where Jim visited her several times a week.

Surviving are his seven children: Lynn C. Davis, Horsham; Jean Lee, wife of Richard Vick, Ignacio, Colo.; Jamie E., wife of Michael Daniels, Golden, Colo.; M. Sue, wife of Paul Fields, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Frank Y. Edson, and his wife Barbara, Benton; Lisa E., wife of Craig Daily, Fayetteville, Ga.; Phillip J. Edson, and his wife Laurie, Benton; 17 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service to honor his life will be held on Sunday at 3 p. m., in the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Benton, with his pastor, Rev. O. Allen Lumpkin officiating. Private interment services will be in the Benton Cemetery at a later date. The family will receive friends from 2-3 p. m. Sunday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 1948 E. Third St., Williamsport, PA 17701 or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research and treatment at: www.MichaelJFox.org or to the American Parkinson's Disease Assn., 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4-8, Statan Island, N.Y. 10305.