James Russell Edwards of Hondo, 74, passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Born Sept. 2, 1943, in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, he was the son of James Edmund Edwards and Elizabeth Borse Edwards, who precede him in death. James was a US Navy veteran of the Viet Nam era and a member of the American Legion Hal Jones Post 128, in Hondo. Early in his career, he was a production supervisor in paper manufacturing and the automotive industries and he later worked in the grocery industry in meat and produce. He was a sports enthusiast. James lettered as a varsity soccer player, where he earned the nickname "The Toe" for his strong boot to the goal. He served as a coach for Quakertown Youth Soccer; a Charter member of, and coach for, the Quakertown Midget Football Program; and enjoyed League Bowling which is where he met his wife. His hobbies included cooking and barbecuing; homesteading; "truck patch" vegetable gardening; raising hogs; playing horseshoes; hunting, fishing, camping and travel. James' greatest love was of his family and friends. And his testimony was anchored in God's goodness to the end of his life. He was a member of St. Paul Church in Hondo, where he served as usher. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Deborah Lerch Edwards; son, Curtis (Jennifer) Edwards of Harleysville PA; daughter, Yvonne Edwards of Sellersville PA; stepson, James (Carrie) Bender of New Britain PA; grandchildren, Curtis and Marshall Edwards, Christian Snow, Amanda Blake, and Ashton, Katrin, Corbin and Vivian Bender; brother, Philip (Patricia) Edwards of Quakertown PA; and sisters, Pamela (Ed) Parish of Quakertown PA, Kathy (Wayne) Merritt of Harleysville PA and Mindy Meehan of Horsham PA. A Celebration of Life service will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 6, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Inurnment will be in Pennsylvania. Memorials may be made to Band of Brothers, c/o St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1303 Ave. M, Hondo TX 78861.