William J (John) Edwards was born on April 7, 1949 in NYC and passed away peacefully on June 7, 2026 at St Augustine Manor, Cleveland Ohio, under the hospice care of Holy Family Hospice after a history of poor health and cancer.

Loving son of June C Banar(Heckman-Edwards), fond brother to Suzanne Renwald (Daniel), Charles G.S. (Harriet), Douglas Phillip (deceased), stepbrother to Douglas Banar (Sath), uncle and great uncle.

Preceded in death by his mother, father, Charles J.S., stepfather Rudolph S. Banar, youngest brother Douglas, and nephew Douglas J.C. Edwards 

Will was a proud and direct descendant of Richard Warren of the 1620 Mayflower and of Col Benjamin Church, the first Army Ranger. He was also a descendant of the early 1600 Dutch settlers of NYC-New Jersey areas. His pioneer and later families served in the various armed forces and helped to secure and then continued to keep America’s freedom secure throughout the years of our nation. Will served in Vietnam with the army.

Will attended Columbia Station local schools and graduated from Berea High School.

He will be buried in Columbia Station with other family members. The family will hold a private burial at a later date.