John W. Edwards, III passed away peacefully on December 3, 2023 at St. Clair Hospital surrounded by his loving family.
John was born on October 30, 1957, to John W. Edwards, Jr. and Charlotte Booker Edwards, and grew up in California, PA. John graduated from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) in Edgewood, PA, and attended the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in Rochester, NY, and the Hiram G. Andrews Center (HGAC) in Johnstown, PA.
John was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of the Deaf and had a strong Christian faith. He was a member of many support communities, and attended the social program at Milestone Center and will be loved and missed by his many friends. John enjoyed socializing, especially his time at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill, PA.
John enjoyed volunteering and numerous hobbies. He volunteered in the same-day surgery unit and cafeteria at Shadyside Hospital. He also dedicated his time to teaching others American Sign Language (ASL). John was skilled at crocheting, knitting, and gardening, and enjoyed ceramics, drawing, painting and creating art of all kinds.
John was preceded in death by his father and mother and his brother-in-law, Ed Saxer of Washington, PA, and is survived by his sisters Hila Edwards Saxer of Washington, PA and Nancy Edwards Casdorph (Dan) of Morgantown, WV, nephews and nieces Ian Saxer (Sarah) and Eric and Karin Casdorph, and great-nephews Samuel and Maxwell Saxer.
Visitation will be at the John B. Greenlee Funeral Home, Ltd. 2830 Main St. Beallsville, PA 15313 on Thursday, December 7, 2023, from 3-7 PM and Friday, December 8, 2023 from 10 AM until the time of service at 11 AM with Dr. Grafton Eliason officiating. Interment will follow in Lafayette Memorial Park, Brier Hill, PA. Donations in memory of John can be made to the Center for Hearing and Deaf Services (Pittsburgh, PA), the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, or Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden.
Source: Greenlee Funeral Home
