Mildred (Milly) Edwards, 100, was a woman who always liked to be busy. In her last years at The Village of Heather Hills, Grand Rapids, Michigan she could usually be found wherever there was fun or taking a walk. Mildred was born in Ludlow, Kentucky. She married her High School sweetheart, Kenneth, who was serving in the army as a radio operator on a ship during WWII. They moved up and down the east coast according to his assignments. In New York City she worked as a long-distance telephone operator managing a PBX board.
After WWII the couple lived in Louisville, KY, Toledo, OH and retired to Crossville, TN. Wherever she lived Mildred was always active in her church. Never content with being idle, while raising her children, she also worked as an Avon Representative and a Welcome Wagon Hostess, greeting newcomers with information about businesses and services in their new neighborhoods. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Girl Scout Troop Leader. Mildred hosted foreign exchange students from Germany and France and later traveled to Europe to meet their families. She played tennis in retirement and had a second knee replacement because it interfered with her swimming.
Mildred and Ken were married for 62 years. Following Ken’s death she made her home at Heather Hills for 17 years where she had many friends and became a celebrated Wii bowling champion. Mildred was the mother of Gordon Edwards and Deborah Edwards Lerner, grandmother of Kirk and Gretchen, great-grandmother to Jordan, Olivia, Sam and Max, and great-great-grandmother to Liriel. She was an inspiration and model to those who knew and loved her and will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.