Edna Marie Nelson Edwards – Major, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Davidsonville, MD – Edna Edwards, 85, died Wednes-day, December 30, 1998 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland.

Funeral services were held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 10 at the John W. Taylor Funeral Home in Annapolis with Reverend Ray Blanchard officiating. Burial was in Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, January 11. The John W. Taylor Funeral
Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Edna Marie Nelson was born on January 8, 1913 in Hallock, Maryland, the daughter of Andrew and Elina (Hanson) Nelson. In 1934 she graduated as a registered nurse from the Bethesda School of Nursing in St. Paul. She was employed at Bethesda Hospital from 1934 until 1939 when she moved to California and worked as a supervisor at California Hospital in Los Angeles until 1941.

She entered the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant on May 6, 1941 and was integrated into the regular Army on April 21, 1942. On November 2, 1950 she was promoted to Major. Edna retired from the U.S. Army on February 28, 1963.

While serving her country Edna's principal assignments as Chief Nurse or Assistant Chief Nurse took her to hospitals in New Hebrides and the Philippines; Galesburg, Illinois; El Paso, Texas; Japan and Korea; Fort Jay, New York; Camp Drum, New York; and Munich, Germany.

Military awards and decorations included the Bronze Star medal, American Campaign medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal with five overseas bars; World War II Victory medal; National Defense Service medal and oak leaf cluster; Korean Service
medal with three battle stars; United Nations Service medal; Presidential Unit citation; three Meritorious Unit commendations; Philippine Liberation ribbon and Philippine Republic Presidential citation.

Following her military service Edna resided in Annapolis, Maryland. She married Earl Edwards on May 19, 1971 in Annapolis, Maryand. The couple resided in Davidsonville, Maryland.

Edna was a member of the Military Order of World Wars, Officers Club of the US Naval Academy, Retired Officers Association, Association of the US Army, American Nurses Association, Bethesda Hospital Alumni Association, Retired Army Nurse Corps Association and Retired Officers Wives Club.

Her hobbies included dogs, the electric organ, gardening, redecorating, sewing, knitting, arts and crafts, painting and swimming.

Survivors include one stepson, Dr. Charles Edwards of Baltimore, MD; one stepdaughter, Patty Robbins of Lansing, MI; nine step grandchildren; four step great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; her parents; four sisters and two brothers.

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