Arthur and May Edwards

In 1988, The Centennial History of Hurricane, WV was published to commemorate the town’s 100th anniversary. In 1994, the Centennial Committee published a follow up book which included family histories which were not submitted in time for the 1988 Centennial History. This week’s selection is the 9th history from The Centennial History of Hurricane WV Continued — 1994.

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ARTHUR RICHARD EDWARDS
Submitted by: Cathy Hall and Mae Edwards

Arthur Edwards was born on April 27, 1907, in Hurricane, West Virginia. He was the eldest son of John Thomas (1881ó1948) and Volena Ashworth Edwards. John purchased a farm on Trace Creek about 1920. This is where Arthur and his two brothers, Lowell and Norman grew up. They attended Soonover School located on the edge of the family farm. For several years the school teacher boarded at the Edwards’ farm.

As a young man, Arthur went to work for C&O Freight Railroad. While working in Charleston, he met Gladys Mae Foster. They were married in Catlettsburg, Kentucky on December 30, 1927.

Four children were born to this couple. They had one son, James Arthur and three daughters, Pauline Christine, Ethel Volena and Janet Deloris. James was born on May 6, 1929. He married Polly Roberts on December 24, 1949. James and Polly have two daughters, Judith Carol and Jill Elaine. Judy has one son, Jonathan Woodall. Jill married Rick Gilbert.

Pauline was born on November 3, 1930. She married Leslie William Hall on November 21, 1949. Pauline and Les have four children, Glenda, Christine, Brenda Gaye, Pamela Diane and Leslie Wayne. Glenda has two sons, Stephen Todd and Brent Edward Harrison. She is married to Gary Burgess. Gaye is married to Danny Wood. They have one child, Jason Tristan. Pam married Steve Massey, they had one child, Shaun Patrick born December 29, 1981. He died September 26, 1982. Wayne married Cathy Priestley and they have two daughters, Christine Ann and Ashley Dawn.

Ethel Volena, named after her grandmother was born on October 13, 1931. Ethel married Wilbur Williams September 1, 1950. Son, Rodney Lynn, has one son, Cory. Foster son, Charles Adam Goodman has one son, Adam. Ethel died August 7, 1991.

Janet was born February 5, 1939. She married Dewey Franklin Adkins on August 13, 1955. Janet’s children are Cheryl Lynn, Richard Franklin and Roger Edward. Cheryl is married to David Scragg. They have three sons, Scott, Brian and Jerry. Roger is married to Veronica Hitchcock. They have a son, Jesse Edward.

Arthur worked as a weigh master for Union Carbide, South Charleston until his retirement in 1968. He and his wife, Mae were married 63 years. He passed away September 5, 1991.

Mae still lives on part of the family farm. Daughter, Pauline and her husband, Les now own most of the family farm. They built their house on the site that Soonover School previously stood. Pauline and her brother, James attended Soonover just as their father, Arthur had years before. Arthur’s grandson, Wayne and his family now live in the farm house that Arthur’s father, John had built in the spring of 1928.