Joan Darby Edwards

Joan Darby Edwards, 92, Mission Hills, Kan., passed away peacefully at home, March 20, 2013. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 26 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St. in Kansas City, KS. A private burial will follow. Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Porter’s Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS.
Joan was the second oldest of four daughters of United States Senator Harry Darby and Edith Cubbison Darby of Kansas City, KS.
Joan was born May 11, 1920, in Kansas City, Kan, and was a lifelong area resident. She graduated from Wyandotte High School and attended the University of Kansas, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi.
She met the love of her life, Roy A. Edwards, Jr., when she was six years old. They were married in 1943, and she lost her lifelong sweetheart when he died in December 1987. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Joan was active in many community organizations. She was a past president of the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties. She served as the chairman of Bethany Medical Center Foundation. She was a past president of Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club. In addition, she volunteered for countless organizations, including the Sunflower Council Camp Fire Girls and the Boy Scouts. She was a former director of Gas Service Co. and Western Resources of Topeka.
She was a member of the Wyandotte Chapter of DAR, an Honorary Board of Director of the American Royal and an Honorary Life Member of the BOTAR organization. She also was a member of the Mission Hills Country Club, Garden of the Gods Club, Colorado Springs, CO., and the Kansas City Club.
She bled Crimson and Blue and loved every moment of March Madness. Every season until recently she was in the stands cheering at all post-season games. The University of Kansas recognized her with the Fred Ellsworth Medallion for unique and significant service to the University in 1991. She served as a member of numerous search committees, including the search for a new vice chancellor and two athletic directors. She was a past member of the KU Athletic Corp. Board. In 1990 the Edwards Campus in Overland Park was named for Joan and her late husband, Roy.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Roy, her father and mother, Harry Darby and Edith Cubbison Darby, and her sisters, Harriett Gibson, Edith Marie Evans and Marjorie Alford.
Joan is survived by her children, R.A. (Terry) Edwards, Hutchinson, KS., Barbara Edwards, Fairway, KS, and Susan (Doug) Miller, Mission Hills, KS.; her grandchildren, Ross Edwards, Lawrence, KS., Roy Edwards (Shelly), Boulder, CO., Carrie Edwards, Prairie Village, KS., Libby Baughman, Kansas City, MO., Dr. Darby (Gretchen) Miller, Bethesda, MD., Paige Miller, Fairway, KS., and Cameron (Eric) Schaumburg, Prairie Village, KS; her great grandchildren, Ashton and Luke Edwards, Boulder, CO., and Vai and Jolie Miller, Bethesda, MD; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
“Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.” With that in mind, her family would like to specially thank Dee and Tom Bunch and Bernice Lucas for their many years of loving care.
The family would like to also thank Mary Hamilton and her angels, especially Lavern, Onie, Bertha, Letitia, Retha and Terry for their wonderful care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th Street, Kansas City, KS. 66102, or to the KU Endowment, Attn: Becci Blaesing at P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS., 66044. This donation should be made in memory of Joan Edwards to benefit the Edwards Campus Scholarships.
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