Frank Joseph Edmunds, 83, of The Villages, FL, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at home. He was born September 16, 1939, in St. Petersburg, FL. He moved to the Villages in 2022 after living in Jasper, GA for 20 years and St. Petersburg, FL for 60 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Elizabeth Rita Edmunds. He is survived by his brother Richard Lee Edmunds; his three sons; Rick (Jenny) Edmunds of Durhan, NC., Randy (Lynn) Edmunds of San Diego, CA., Ron (Debbi) Edmunds of St. Petersburg, FL. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Breanna, Benjamin, Trace, Blake, Amanda, and Matthew.
He graduated from St. Petersburg High School in ’57 and received his BA from Tampa University in ’61. Professionally, Joe went on to become a schoolteacher, a corporate pilot, and a real estate broker. He loved teaching people how to waterski, swim, springboard dive, and how to fly airplanes. He was such a great guy and no matter where he went, he would run into an old friend, colleague, or student.
Early on his hobby was water skiing. He made a small living skiing for the Wisconsin Dells and Atlantic City Shows, and actually made one of the “Greasy Kid-Stuff” TV commercials in ’65 for Vitalis. His next hobby was flying. After a few years as a flight instructor he became a corporate pilot for a Morgan Yacht company and later with Allied Insurance which supported his goal to visit all 50 states. Later on, together with Liz, their main hobbies were hiking and golf.
Joe loved giving blood to the Red Cross and donated gallons over the years. Memorial contributions in his name can be made to the Red Cross, American Cancer Society or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
