James L. "Jim" Edwards Obituary (1941

James L. "Jim" Edwards, 80, of Bloomington, passed away Thursday, July 14, 2022, at home surrounded by his family. Visitation will be Thursday, July 21, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home in LeRoy. His funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. also at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Hopewell Cemetery, Downs, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Jim was born December 12, 1941, to Ward Wellington and Inez Marie (Marvel) Edwards in Monticello, IL. He married Linda Hamblin Bruning on June 26, 1982, at Funks Grove. They recently celebrated 40 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife, Linda of Bloomington; three children, Amy (Dan Lush) Eastham of LeRoy, Cindy (AJ) Boward of Downs, and Tom (Mariah) Bruning of Downs; special friends, Jim (Dee) Hinegardner; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brothers, George Edwards of Champaign, and Hobart (Norma) Edwards of Mahomet; and sister, Cleta Dotson of Santa Maria, California. He was preceded in death by one son, Jonathan Ward Edwards; three sisters, Twila "Kay", Virginia "Ginny" and Erma "Jean"; one brother, Robert "Bobby"; and son-in-law, Tim Eastham. Jim was a proud U.S. Navy veteran serving on the USS Newport News CA-148 during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. He worked for 32 years at General Electric in Bloomington. He was a Union Steward and committee member for the Machinist Lodge #1000. He also owned and operated The Princess Theatre, in LeRoy, in the 1970's. His greatest enjoyment in life was his family. He loved watching his kids, grandkids and great grandkids play sports as well as watching the Fighting Illini and Chicago Cubs. The family would like to give a special thank you to the OSF Hospice Team nurses Amanda and Tina for their love and care during this difficult time. You are special people! At the family's request, casual dress is encouraged.