Carolyn June Edwards

A Celebration of Life for Carolyn June Edwards of Mountain Home, Arkansas, will be 1:00 pm, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church, with Reverend Mike Clark officiating.

On June 10, 2016, Carolyn June Edwards passed away at the Select Specialty Hospital in Springfield, Missouri after a brief illness. A resident of Mountain Home, Arkansas for the past 22 years, Carolyn was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mountain Home. She was also an active member of the Alley-White American Legion Post 52.

Carolyn was born on April 7, 1935, in Kansas City, Kansas, and grew up in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Soon after the death of her father, age 11, she moved with her mother to Seattle, Washington. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Seattle and then attended the University of Washington and was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.

During her time in Seattle she met and married her husband, the late Lyndel Edwards. In 1966 they eventually settled in Springfield, Virginia.

In Springfield, Carolyn was active with her church; teaching Sunday School, visiting women in jail, and bringing food and clothing to families in need. She was also active in local politics and worked as a volunteer on many campaigns for the Democratic Party. Carolyn was committed and devoted to being generous with her time, money, talents, and always enjoyed serving others.

After raising her family, Carolyn went to work for the J.C. Penney Company in Springfield, Virginia and managed the ladies pocket book department. Carolyn was recognized several times over the years for exemplary customer service. In 1986, she went to work for the Central Intelligence Agency and retired from the agency after eight years of service. While at the CIA, Carolyn was a Security Officer Supervisor and was again recognized often with certificates and awards for her excellent service.

As a middle-aged woman, Carolyn discovered belly dancing and loved to perform and entertain. During her years in Mountain Home she often visited nursing homes and performed for the residents and enjoyed discussing the history and significance represented by the art of belly dancing. Belly dancing allowed her to do her favorite things; entertain and make people happy.
Most of all Carolyn was proud of her family and cherished her time with them. Carolyn leaves her family with many wonderful memories and an enduring love. She taught us to be compassionate to everyone and she will be dearly missed.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her father, Howard Ward, her mother, Sallie Ward (Brooks), and her husband, Wilmer Lyndel. She is survived by her daughter, Lynda Edwards of Chattanooga, Tennessee, her sons, Paul Edwards and his wife Michele Connolly of Westwood, Massachusetts, John Edwards and his wife Kim and grandson Chisu of Fairfax City, Virginia, her son Robert “Bobby” Edwards and his wife Melinda and grandchildren Tara, Mary-Carolyn, Robert, and Seraphina of Colorado Springs, Colorado, her brother and sister-in-law Alton Smith and his wife Carolyn (Edwards) of Dallas, Texas.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas.
Carolyn will be privately inurned at the Kirby's Tucker Memorial Mausoleum, Mountain Home, AR.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.