Ronald Dean Edwards, 80, of The Villages, FL, formerly of Brighton, IA, passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2016, at Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh, NC. He was born in Coppock, Iowa on September 11, 1935, to William “Roy” Edwards and Bessie Lucille McKune Edwards. He grew up in Brighton and graduated from Brighton High School in 1953. Dean married Jeanette Peiffer on June 10, 1957 in Pleasant Plain, IA. He lived his entire life in Brighton until they moved to The Villages, Florida in 2012.
Dean worked at the Rubio Savings Bank of Brighton, which later became the Federation Bank immediately out of high school. He worked at the bank for 47 years, 32 years as President and retired in 1999. Dean also sold Pioneer Seed Corn and clerked many auctions with his brother Norman “Eddie” Edwards and Jim Emry.
Dean was actively involved in several organizations and served on a number of boards including, Washington Hospital, Brighton Development Corporation, Friends of Lake Darling, Lake Darling Youth Center, St. Joseph’s Church Council, Brighton Chamber of Commerce, Brighton City Council, Lions Club of Brighton, Elks Club, I-Club of Washington, Federation Bank Board of Directors, Iowa Bankers Association and the National Independent Bankers Association. He was also a member of the Brighton Volunteer Fire Department and the Walton Country Club in Fairfield. Dean was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa Hawkeyes and enjoyed golfing and camping. He and his wife spent every year at the Iowa State Fair until they moved to Florida.
Dean is survived by his wife Jeanette of Raleigh, NC, sons Steve of Las Vegas, and Denny and his wife Cindy of Raleigh, NC. Grandsons Kyle Edwards of Great Falls, MT and Bryce and Drake Edwards both of Raleigh, NC. He is also survived by his two sisters, Joyce Jones of Cedar Rapids, IA and Jan Statler and husband Larry of Parnell, IA. He has 11 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Bessie and his brother Norman “Eddie” Edwards.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2016, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in East Pleasant Plain with Rev. Robert Striegel officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in Brighton. Visitation with the family will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday immediately preceding the Funeral Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Dean’s memory may be left at the church or mailed to: Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or Friends of Lake Darling, Attention: Dr. Fay Vittetoe, P.O. Box 333, Brighton, Iowa 52540.
