James “Jim” Edwards, 87, of Salina, passed away Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. Jim was born and raised in Wichita.
In the summers he enjoyed visiting his cousin, Jim Hoskins in Oklahoma. There were plenty of farm chores and fishing stories. The last time he saw cousin Jim they enjoyed fishing and playing cards in Oklahoma all day.
His best friend was Bob Wilson who grew up across the street. Their families were close and attended church together. After both joining the United States Marines, Bob was able to find Jim in Iwo Jima. Their friendship was rekindled again when Jim moved to Salina in 2004. They enjoyed watching Bob’s grandson play football at Central High School.
Jim’s occupation was also his life long passion. He began to learn his craft in high school. Right out of high school he joined the United Sates Marine Corps where his assignment was the intelligence office and photography unit. After leaving the Marines, he attended Houston School of Photography where he received a degree in professional photography. At the same time he co-owned a photo studio. After leaving Houston, he moved back home to Wichita and worked as a freelance photographer. His clients included the Wichita Eagle, Wichita Beacon, Reed Studio, Kansas Investigation Service Photography, Wichita Photo and Camera Studio, and local sporting events.
In 1950, Jim was asked to reenlist in the Marines and was assigned to the motion picture production unit as a still photographer and photo instructor. A highlight of the assignment was working with RCA and Columbia Pictures while filming the Flying Leather Necks with John Wayne. While filming, John Wayne asked Jim if he would like a picture taken with him. Jim asked instead if he could take a picture of his wife, Doris; daughter, Christina, and John Wayne. John Wayne said, “ of course” and his family had a great picture of the three. Jim said John Wayne was one of the nicest men he ever had the pleasure to meet. He also took pictures of Bob Hope, Gene Autry, and Jane Wyman to mention a few. Jim was asked to be a photographer/producer in Hollywood but declined, saying he would rather return to Wichita. He felt Hollywood was no place to raise a family.
Jim again returned to Wichita after the Marines and started his own studio specializing in advertisement, portraits, slides, and freelance photography. Jim became an instructor at Wichita State in the journalism department. While doing these two jobs Jim also found time for some interesting projects including studying Kirlian “Aura” photography with Dr. Lester, Dr. Vogt, and Dr. Riordan. He began giving lectures on the subject and a book was written with his photos. Jim retired in 1990 due to heart trouble. He also loved taking photos of family, especially nieces and nephews which will be treasured forever.
The love of his life was Doris Bernard who he was married to for 57 years. His father came home one day and said, “I met the woman you are going to marry today”. Jim and Doris loved to dance at the Elk’s Club and were always together. They had a daughter, Christina Edwards Nelson.
Jim’s favorite pastimes included camping, fishing, and boating. The family started out camping in a tent and at the end of their camping days they had a motor home they could live in comfortably with guests. When Jim retired, he and Doris would winter in Tucson, Ariz. where their daughter, Christina and husband Chuck, and grandchildren, Jimmie and Robbie lived. They were happiest when spending time with their daughter and family.
Jim also loved to barbecue. His brother-in-law, Jon always said his barbecue hamburgers were the best ever. Jim had a “special sauce” he used on the hamburgers. Until recently, only his grandson, Jimmie had the privilege to know the ingredients.
The heartbreak of Jim’s life was losing his daughter, Christina to pneumonia in 1990 and his wife, in 2005. Jim moved to Salina in 2004. He was so loved by his wife and he loved her deeply. His family was worried about him when his wife passed, but he pulled up his bootstraps and tried his best to live without her. Jim made many new friends at church, the Marine Corps League, and retirement home. He tried to busy himself with any job he could do from painting the outside of the retirement home to driving a van to pick up men at the Rescue Mission for church. He also traveled with Emmanuel Foursquare Church on two out of the country mission trips. The pictures he took on these trips were shared with friends and will always be treasured. He was known for his great work ethic, his organization, and determination.
Jim had health issues and beat cancer once. Three months ago he was diagnosed with a different incurable cancer. He handled pain more courageously than most. His last five weeks at Holiday Resort he was treated with dignity and patience. He once said he appreciated everything the nursing staff did for him. He will be remembered as an adoring husband, father, grandfather, uncle, Marine, and professional photographer.
We will treasure all the stories you’ve shared and the legacy you’ve left. We will miss you terribly. Your family and friends are thankful you are at rest in heaven with your beautiful wife and daughter.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Kathryn Edwards; wife, Doris; daughter, Christina Nelson; sisters, Eleanor Mensor and Dollie Graham; and a niece, Shirley Forasieppi.
He is survived by a brother-in-law, Jon Banard, of Portland, Ore.; grandsons, Jim Nelson, Rob Nelson, and Chuck Nelson, all of Tucson, Ariz.; great-grandsons, Kyle Nelson and Brandon Nelson; and countless cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th, Salina, KS 67401.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at Emmanuel Foursquare Church. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Friday at White Chapel Memorial Gardens, 1806 N. Oliver, Wichita.
Memorials may be made to the Salina Rescue Mission or Emmanuel Four Square Church.
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Ressia Wilbur, 86, Salina, died Dec. 22, 2013. She was born July 24, 1927 in Salina the daughter ofMartin & Lucy (Kubitschek) Wilbur. Ressia was deputy Asst. Clerk for the Saline County Treasures office for over 42 years. She was a member of the Brookville P.M.O. Club.
Ressia was preceded in death by her sisters, Helen Jensen, Ruby Vanderford, Gladys Shaw and Goldie Gottberg and brothers, Jess, Floyd, and Frank and infant twin, Frank.
She is survived by her son, Martin (Devi) Wilbur, Salina, a grandson, Brad Wilbur, Salina; a brother, Fred (Joyce) Wilbur, Norfolk, NE; and a sister, Phyllis (Ken) Alstadt, Norfolk, NE. Her nieces and nephews are Gary, Allen & Darold Alstadt; Wayne, Linda & Roy Gray; Larry, Delbert and Frankie Vanderford; Larry Shaw, Virginia Shaw and Patricia Ravencamp; Lee Wilbur and Sharon Emory.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm Friday, Dec. 27, 2013 at the Ryan Mortuary. Burial will be in the Gypsum Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the Ryan Mortuary on Thursday from noon until 8:00 pm where the family will receive friends from 5 until 6:00 pm that evening.
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CUBA – Alice M. Davidson, 71, of Cuba, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013. She was born August 6, 1943, the daughter of Owen and Edith (Walter) Wilber. She married James Davidson Sr. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Phyllis Beard.
Survivors include her husband, James Sr., of Cuba; son, James Jr., of Salina; daughter, Julie, of McPherson; brothers, Charles Wilber and wife Ruth, of Belleville, John Wilber, of Alaska, and Harold Wilber and wife Karen, of Belleville; sister, Esther Dorman, of Belleville; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is handling arrangements.