Ted David Edmondson's Obituary
Ted David Edmondson passed away on October 9, 2023 at 8:15 p.m. at the age of 77. He was born to Shade Thomas and Esther Lucille (Relf) Edmondson on August 26, 1946 in Maude Norton Hospital in Columbus, Kansas. He was their first child born in a hospital. His older siblings were Patricia Ann Bendure and Stanley Denton Edmondson.
His education started at Mount Pleasant, a one-room school located a mile and ½ west of his childhood home. His first love and best friend was a horse named Scout. He spent a lot of time feeding and riding her. His first heartbreak dealing with loss was when she died of anthrax during an outbreak in the mid 50s. He attended Melrose School for grades 5-8, where he was greatly influenced by his teacher, Mrs. Agnes McNemar.
Ted attended Cherokee County Rural High School in Columbus and graduated with honors with the Class of 1964. Among other things, he was President of the National Honor Society. He was active in the Whistling Bob Whites 4-H Club and in the summer of 1964 won the Cherokee County and State of Kansas Champion Tractor Driver competition. He went on to place 7th at the National 4-H Tractor Driving competition in Las Cruces, New Mexico. During high school, his main interests were farming, making good grades, hot-rodding his Ford, and expanding his interest in girls. As a stutterer, he found the latter to be somewhat difficult.
He enrolled at Kansas State University to become a nuclear engineer but changed his major to Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of Pi Tau Sigma, an honorary mechanical engineering fraternity. During the fall of 1966, while home for Thanksgiving, he met the true love of his life, Rebecca L. Stice on Commercial Street in Oswego, KS. It was true love at first sight for Ted and exactly one year later, they became engaged! Ted and Rebecca were married on August 11, 1968, in the First United Presbyterian Church of Oswego, a union that would last a lifetime.
As newlyweds, Ted and Rebecca lived in Manhattan for 9 months. Upon Ted’s graduation from Kansas State, they moved to Wichita where he was employed at Boeing Aircraft in the engineering department working on the B-52, 747 cargo handling, and America’s version of the Supersonic Transport (SST). Early in the summer of 1971, they moved back to Cherokee County to begin his farming career with his dad and brother. Ted and Rebecca have lived on the same farm since 1971. In 1999, Ted and son, Chris, formed Edmondson Farms where Ted was actively involved until early 2023.
Ted served over 30 years as a member of the Cherokee County Rural Water District #3, serving as president for several years. He was a registered Girl Scout, taking the troop to Branson campouts and working at the Fair Kitchen. Ted also served as a chaperone to students’ State and National competitions for Business Professionals of America.
He was a lifetime member of the Kansas State University Alumni Association and National Rifle Association. He held membership with Farmers Cooperative Association, Cherokee County Farm Bureau, Kansas Soybean Association, American Soybean Association, Kansas Corn Growers Association and American Corn Growers Association.
Ted accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior during his grade school years at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, rural Columbus, his home church until marriage. He became a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Oswego with his bride, where he served on the session. In 1985 he joined the First United Methodist Church of Columbus where he remained active until his time of death. He served on the Board of Trustees, Church Council and various committees.
Ted is preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca, of the home; children Amenda Ann Lacy (Benjamin) of Bentonville, AR, and Christopher David Edmondson of Columbus; and five grandchildren, Sophia Ann Lacy, Thomas Jacob Lacy, John David Lacy, Olivia Anne Edmondson and Owen Christopher Edmondson.
Visitation to be held Friday, October 13, 2023 from 5:30 to 7:30 at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 611 S. East Avenue, Columbus, KS.
Service to be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 320 W. Maple, Columbus, KS. Burial to follow at Greenlawn Cemetary.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 20, Columbus, KS 66725
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