Obituary of Evelyn R. Edwards
Evelyn R. Edwards, 94, of Clinton, passed away January 5, 2026, at Wynn Hospital.
She was born in Utica on April 20, 1931, a daughter of George J. and Ruth (Smith) Richards. Evelyn grew up in Willowvale and graduated from Chadwicks High School in 1948. On March 31, 1951, she was united in marriage to Melville A. Edwards at Willowvale Methodist Church. They shared 68 years of marriage until Mel’s passing in 2019.
Evelyn began her career at the Utica-Willowvale Bleachery, and National Accessories before working at Hamilton College for the food service. She was a secretary and receptionist at Sherman Brook Village for many years. In 1988 Evelyn graduated from Utica College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was a member of the Psi Chi National Honor Society.
Evelyn and Mel shared a passion for local history and enjoyed collecting old postcards. Evelyn authored local history books, The Sauquoit Valley, and Around Utica. She also published A Litchfield Family In The Civil War. She was a member of the Clinton Historical Society, and the Historical Societies for New Hartford, Town of Paris and Oneida County. Evelyn belonged to the Schooltown Questers, the Civil War Roundtable and Clinton United Methodist Church.
She will be missed by her children, David and Deborah Edwards of Currie, NC, Melissa and Andrew Smith of South Charleston, WV, and Lynne and Scott Dillenback of New Hartford; six beloved grandchildren and their spouses, Elizabeth and Charles Willetts, Ethan and Amanda Edwards, Kaitlyn and Evan Crews, Timothy and Ryan Smith, Nathan and Ashley Smith, and Meghan and Nathan Jones; ten cherished great-grandchildren, Caleb, Emma, Avery, Owen, Amelia, Ransom, Noah, Nash, Ayla and Franklin; her sisters Joyce Shepherd and Esther and William McCarthy; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband Mel; sisters Marian Jones, Norma Clark, Doris Thomas, Shirley Kelly and her brother George Richards Jr.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Evelyn’s wonderful neighbors, especially the Burns, Pristera, and Mogel families and her special friend Liliana. We also thank James for making Evelyn beautiful every Thursday.
All are invited to call Monday, April 20, 2026, from 4-6pm at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, 35 College St., Clinton. A Celebration of Evelyn’s Life will be held at 6pm. Evelyn and Mel will be laid to rest at Crown Hill Memorial Park.
Please consider donations to St. Jude’s or the Rescue Mission of Utica.
The family thanks Dr. Sunil Paudel at Wynn Hospital, as well as the nurses, care techs and sitters from the 6th and 7th floors for the care and compassion shown to Evelyn during her stay.
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