Obituary: Alfred J. Edwards Jr., Survived Three Torpedoed Ships

Obituary from Peterson-O’Donnell Funeral Home.

Alfred J. Edwards Jr., 90, of Peabody, died Sunday, June 28, 2015 after a lengthy illness. He was the beloved husband of Sadie (Moore) Edwards, with whom he shared 67 years of marriage.

Born in Birmingham, England, Alfred was the son of the late Alfred J. Edwards, Sr. and Philomena (Sumner) Edwards. He was raised and educated in England and when war broke out, he joined the Merchant Marines.

The first ship he sailed on was the “Port Nicholson” that was torpedoed off the coast of Cape Cod by a German sub. All the crew was picked up by an American Ship and was brought to a place in Boston to await another merchant ship. They left Boston on the merchant ship, “The Cape Grace”, which was also torpedoed in the mid-Atlantic and those saved were picked up and sailed for England.

Jack was assigned to another merchant ship, “The Flower Gate.” It was torpedoed in the Atlantic waters and much of the crew was saved. When war was over, Jack moved to join the New Zealand Army. He spent a few weeks in training and went to South Korea where he served 18 months. He went back to New Zealand and within three months, needed his VISA to come to America and left New Zealand by ship. Arriving in San Francisco at the end of November, 1947, he took the bus to Boston, arriving in December. He lived at Sadie’s mother and father’s home in Revere. They were married February 28, 1948 by Rev. E. Dahl of Mt. Bellingham Methodist Church, Chelsea. Jack later joined the National Guard as a member of the 182nd Mortar Division in Everett.

Jack first worked for Bond Brothers Construction and later found work as an engraver. He first worked for Apahouser, then Ezra Lebouff, and then for Compo Shoe Engraving, making molds for sneakers. But Lebouff wanted him back because his company engraved the dials on the first missile in space and he also engraved the Treblinka urns, which hold the ashes of the Jewish people killed in Germany, that are buried on the grounds of Brandeis University.

Besides work, Jack belonged to many bowling leagues, first with West Congregational Church for 10 years. After Sadie and Jack joined the City Hall League in Peabody and a few others, he was an engraver by trade.

After Jack’s place of engraving closed and was handled by a different person, he noticed the sign “Screeners and Security Guards needed” at Logan Airport. He took the test in Boston and was hired part-time as a screener in September of 1989 and remained there for 13 ½ years. When war broke out, the TSA took control and many of the part-time workers retired.

Jack was a devoted member of the West Congregational Church for 54 years.

He is survived by his loving wife Sadie (Moore) Edwards of Peabody; his sister-in-law, Dorcas Webber of Deland, FL; his brother-in-law, George Moore of Westford; his nieces and nephews: Lori Webber of Deland, FL, Russell G. Webber of Chesapeake, VA, George I. Moore and wife Donna of Williamsburg, VA, Stephen Moore and wife Susan of Woburn, and Jeffrey Moore and wife Amy of Westford; great nieces and nephews: Kimberly Rood of Deland, FL, Jennifer and Melissa Moore of Woburn, Jennifer and Christina Webber of Chesapeake, VA, Alex Moore of Williamsburg, VA, Jeffrey Moore and Christina Moore both of Westford. He also leaves his great great grandnephew, Christina Rood of Deland, FL and his great great grandniece Mia Bichara of Chesapeake, VA. He is further survived by his dearest cousins, Lillian and Kenneth Ford, Melanie and Luigi Ford and Reba Dellinger all of Charlotte, NC and his closest friend Robert Waugh and his wife Nancy of Peabody. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Russell E. Webber and his sister-in-law, Joan Moore.

ARRANGEMENTS- His Funeral Service will be held in the West Congregational Church, 27 Johnson St., Peabody on Tuesday, July 7th at 11 A.M. Relatives and friends invited. A visiting hour will be held in the church prior to the service beginning at 10 A.M. Burial in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. Assisting the family with arrangements is the Peterson-O’Donnell Funeral Home, 167 Maple St. (Rte. 62) Danvers. In lieu of flowers, donations in Alfred’s memory may be sent to West Congregational Church, Building Fund, 27 Johnson St., Peabody, Ma 01960 or to the Peabody Council on Aging, Transportation Dept., C/O Dottie Taylor, 79 Central St., Peabody, Ma 01960. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visitwww.odonnellfuneralservice.com