Edwin Richmond York, 89, of Hudson, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2023. Edwin was born September 4, 1933, in a rural home located near the small town of Red Creek, New York, back when the mother’s maiden name was often given to the oldest son as a middle name.

Edwin was the third of five children born to Leon Frederick York and Mildred Richmond York. His oldest sister is Anna Marie Bucknam (née York), presently living in a northern Virginia retirement home. His three other sisters, now all deceased, are Mildred Leone Van Nostrand, Theda Caryl Garcia, and Philena Ruth Garey.
Edwin’s wife of almost 66 years was Jean Davis York, born in Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, where Jean’s father, Rear Admiral James White Davis, (USN) was stationed with his wife, Ruth Steele Davis, when Jean was born. Jean predeceased Edwin on March 1, 2023.

Edwin and Jean were married in 1957 in Yokosuka, Japan, after a brief courtship. The following years blessed them with five children: James Frederick in 1959, Elizabeth Jean in 1960, David Lundeen in 1962, Peter Lawrence in 1963, and John Davis in 1966. Each of their five children served in the military, with all four boys attending, respectively, Jim, the United States Military Academy, both David and Peter the Air Force Academy, and John the Naval Academy, Elizabeth received her commission as an active duty Army officer upon her graduation from Western Carolina University.

Edwin is survived by fifteen grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Edwin graduated from high school with a High School Equivalency (GED) diploma. He attended college at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, and Towson State Teachers college in Towson, Maryland. He entered active duty military service as a Naval Aviation Cadet in 1953, training at Pensacola, Florida, as a helicopter and light-liaison fixed-wing pilot. He transferred to the Marine Corps in late 1954, serving in squadrons located in North Carolina and Oppama, Japan. He met his wife-to-be, Jean Lundeen Davis, in Oppama, and they were married October 4, 1957. Shortly after their marriage, Edwin’s active duty commitment was over, and he and his wife returned to the United States where he enrolled at Baylor University, Waco, Texas. He graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in religion. In 1960, Edwin entered Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1964, later retitled as a Master of Divinity degree.

During this time Edwin was pastor of Thanksgiving Baptist Church in Selma, North Carolina. In early 1965, he re-entered the military as an endorsed Southern Baptist Chaplain in the US Army. After two tours in the Republic of South Vietnam, Edwin served as Post Chaplain at Wildflecken Training Area in Germany. Following that three-year tour of duty, Edwin and family returned to the United States where he attended the Chaplaincy Advanced Course at Fort Wadsworth, located on Staten Island in New York City. While there, he earned a second Master’s degree from Long Island University. After completing the course, he was selected to remain at the school as a correspondence curriculum writer. Following that, he was nominated to attend the Command and General Staff course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. That year-long program was followed by a second three-year European tour, this time as Post Chaplain at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, located in Mons, Belgium.

Edwin’s last military assignment was as Post Chaplain at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and he retired as a full colonel in August of 1987 after almost 28 years of active duty service. He and Jean stayed in Arizona for 21 more years, where he served nine years as pastor of Country Estates Southern Baptist Church of Sierra Vista. He retired as pastor in 2007, and in 2009 Edwin and Jean moved to Ridgecrest, California, ultimately joining Ridgecrest Church of the Nazarene.

Throughout his life, Edwin maintained an ongoing love of the written word. In addition to thousands of sermons, he also wrote numerous short stories, devotionals, and novels. He left behind a staggering body of work for his descendants. He also loved music, both playing music on one of several instruments he learned over his lifetime to singing in (and at times directing) various choirs and ensembles in chapels and churches throughout his life. His enduring curiosity about the world and our place in it also provided an inspiring legacy for his friends and family.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Woodland Hill Presbyterian Homes and St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care of Edwin in his final months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his name to Ken Medema Music, 4324 Canal Ave., Grandville, MI 49418. Funeral arrangements are to be determined.