Neal Clifton Edwards

Neal Clifton Edwards, 90, died Saturday, April 20, 2013, at his home in Cape Girardeau after a prolonged illness. Neal was born June 13, 1922, in Delta, son of Samuel C. and Menda Edwards. Samuel died in 1923. Neal was raised and attended school in Benton, and served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a Staff Sergeant with the 1905th Engineer Aviation Battalion from Nov. 1942 through Dec. 1945, leading a platoon of 47 men in the China-Burma-India theater to construct the Ledo Trail of the Burma Road.

In 1946 he moved to Cape Girardeau and spent 20 years in the general TV business. In 1965 he moved to radio broadcasting, working for KGMO for five years. In 1970 he joined KFVS as Sales Manager, and in 1979 joined the American Family Group as an Account Executive for KFVS TV. He retired in 1986.

Neal was involved in various community and veterans' organizations in numerous leadership roles throughout the years. He was a charter member of The Exchange Club, a lifetime member of VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, a member of the American Legion, Elks Lodge 639, SEMO Booster Club, and was a 40-year member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

In 1997, Neal founded the Annual Flag Day Golf Tournament for the Missouri Veteran's Home, raising over $300,000 for this cause alone.

He was a founding member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church and attended Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a member of Kimbeland Country Club and past chairman of the United Way Board of Directors. Neal received numerous awards for his community service, including 13 Go-Getter awards and the Rush H. Limbaugh award from the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the 2006 Spirit of America award. In all, Neal raised over $1 million for local charities and veterans' organizations.

Neal married Verline Greer in Kevil, Ky., on June 28, 2003. He is survived by his wife, Verline; a daughter, Carolyn (Albert) Moore of Cape Girardeau; stepdaughter, Belinda Parr of Cape Girardeau; stepson Brad (Patricia) Greer of Dexter; one granddaughter, Kendra Foster Mitchell of Atlanta, Ga.; and one step-granddaughter, Shea Masterson of St. Louis.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Walter Daniels; his mother and father; one daughter, Mary Ellen Rutherford and son-in-law Roger Rutherford, wife Betty Masterson; and ex-wife Ruth Edwards.

Visitation was held Monday, April 22, 2013, from 4-8 p.m. at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel, and the funeral was held at Ford and Sons on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at 10 a.m. Burial followed at Cape County Memorial Park.

At the request of the family, donations may be made to the Missouri Veterans Home, 2400 Veterans Memorial Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.