Obituary for Donald "Choc" Edwards Sr.
Donald Francis “Choc” Edwards, Sr. passed away on August 14, 2022 at the Hunterdon Medical Center. Choc was born on September 19,1928 and had what he considered a very happy life for 93 years with 60 of them residing in his home on Buttonwood Street. Choc was a lifelong Lambertville resident, and although he had left the city limits a few times in his life he was always the most content while sitting in his chair on Buttonwood Street.
Choc found the love of his life in Lambertville in Marion Joan “Mikie” Edwards and they were married for just short of 65 years when she passed away in April 2020. They had some wonderful adventures after they were married in July of 1955, but the most important thing for them was the time they spent together sitting on their front porch greeting their friends, family, and neighbors who stopped by to visit.
Choc graduated from Lambertville High School in 1948 and shortly after enlisted in the Navy with some of his long-time high school friends. His service in the Navy included time during the Korean War on a troop transport ship the USS General W.A. Mann. During his time in the Navy, he received training as an electrician, and after his honorable discharge he began working for the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. He worked his way up to become a head electrician for the DRJTBC and was instrumental in the opening of the Lambertville-New Hope toll bridge in 1971. He continued his work at the DRJTBC until his retirement in April 1983.
Upon his retirement his hobby of repairing and building furniture turned into a second career as he would rebuild furniture for many of the local restaurants in the area, and he continued this craft for almost another 20 years.
He and Mikie were the guardians of Buttonwood Street and could be counted on by any neighbor to care for a pet or watch over their home while they were away. They also were the neighborhood lifeguards for many generations of Buttonwood Street children who learned to swim in their pool over the years.
Choc had been active throughout the course of his life in many of the local Lambertville organizations including the Elks, the Young Men’s Athletic Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and especially the American Legion Post 120 where he and Mike often jointly served lunches and would bartend for the members.
Choc was the last surviving member of his immediate family as he was predeceased by his parents, John Abro and Nellie “Bye” Edwards; his sisters Gladys Edwards and Eleanor Decker Baumgartner; and his brothers, John and Frederick Edwards. He is survived by his son Donald “Dink” Edwards, Jr. and his spouse Christine; and his daughter Karen and her husband Michael Sharp. His grandchildren, Jessica Miller and her husband Jeff; Stephen, Aili, Aiden, and Austin Edwards; Meredith and Jarrett Sharp; and Lauren Wood. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Robert Tettemer and his wife Joyce; sister-in-law Nancy Clark and her husband James; more nieces and nephews than he could ever count; and some very special family friends in Barbara and Bruce Wood, and especially Reba Stout.
The family will be hosting a joint celebration of life ceremony for Choc and Mikie with more information to follow for family, friends, and the many beloved Buttonwood Street neighbors they adored. They will be interred together privately at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery at a later date.
Donations can be made to the American Legion through their website mylegion.org.
Choc found the love of his life in Lambertville in Marion Joan “Mikie” Edwards and they were married for just short of 65 years when she passed away in April 2020. They had some wonderful adventures after they were married in July of 1955, but the most important thing for them was the time they spent together sitting on their front porch greeting their friends, family, and neighbors who stopped by to visit.
Choc graduated from Lambertville High School in 1948 and shortly after enlisted in the Navy with some of his long-time high school friends. His service in the Navy included time during the Korean War on a troop transport ship the USS General W.A. Mann. During his time in the Navy, he received training as an electrician, and after his honorable discharge he began working for the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. He worked his way up to become a head electrician for the DRJTBC and was instrumental in the opening of the Lambertville-New Hope toll bridge in 1971. He continued his work at the DRJTBC until his retirement in April 1983.
Upon his retirement his hobby of repairing and building furniture turned into a second career as he would rebuild furniture for many of the local restaurants in the area, and he continued this craft for almost another 20 years.
He and Mikie were the guardians of Buttonwood Street and could be counted on by any neighbor to care for a pet or watch over their home while they were away. They also were the neighborhood lifeguards for many generations of Buttonwood Street children who learned to swim in their pool over the years.
Choc had been active throughout the course of his life in many of the local Lambertville organizations including the Elks, the Young Men’s Athletic Club, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and especially the American Legion Post 120 where he and Mike often jointly served lunches and would bartend for the members.
Choc was the last surviving member of his immediate family as he was predeceased by his parents, John Abro and Nellie “Bye” Edwards; his sisters Gladys Edwards and Eleanor Decker Baumgartner; and his brothers, John and Frederick Edwards. He is survived by his son Donald “Dink” Edwards, Jr. and his spouse Christine; and his daughter Karen and her husband Michael Sharp. His grandchildren, Jessica Miller and her husband Jeff; Stephen, Aili, Aiden, and Austin Edwards; Meredith and Jarrett Sharp; and Lauren Wood. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Robert Tettemer and his wife Joyce; sister-in-law Nancy Clark and her husband James; more nieces and nephews than he could ever count; and some very special family friends in Barbara and Bruce Wood, and especially Reba Stout.
The family will be hosting a joint celebration of life ceremony for Choc and Mikie with more information to follow for family, friends, and the many beloved Buttonwood Street neighbors they adored. They will be interred together privately at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery at a later date.
Donations can be made to the American Legion through their website mylegion.org.