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Wallace Henry Edwards Sr. passed away Sunday, October 25, 2020, at his home in Ponca City. He was born on February 17, 1924, in Ponca City. Wallace was the son of William D. and Beaulah Vanselous Edwards. He was a true “Son of Ponca City,” as the grandson of two pioneer families who successfully made the Cherokee Strip Land Run, William H. and Viola Vanselous and also Henry Duke and Nancy Edwards. He was a lifelong member of The First Baptist Church of Ponca City.
As a student of Ponca City High School with his charm and friendly manner, he was voted Prince PO HI in 1942. He was elected a member of the 1942 Oklahoma All-State Football team. Wallace attended Oklahoma State University and played football for one year before he joined the Army to fight in WWll.
During the war, he served one year building the Wilson Tunnel on Oahu, Hawaii. This time in Hawaii began for him a life long relationship with the islands. The remainder of the war he saw action in the South Pacific.
After the war, he returned to Ponca City and married his high school sweetheart, Polly Marie Black. He founded a farm equipment company, Edwards Equipment Co. in 1947. A born salesman, Wallace sold farm equipment to customers as far as Montana. After nearly 40 years, he closed the equipment company and returned to farming and ranching and operated the Big V Ranch until he retired at the age of 92.
A community-minded citizen, Wallace was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Elk Club, American Legion, Kappa Sigma Fraternity and he was the last founding member of the Ponca City Country Club.
If the worth of a man can be judged by his friends and family’s devotion, Wallace was a very wealthy man. He and Polly were married for 65 years before her death and they raised four children in Ponca City. Wallace is survived by his four children, Sally Parker of Honolulu, Hawaii; Wallace Henry (Hank) Edwards Jr. of Ponca City; Jane and Tom Morris of Ponca City; William Duke Edwards ll of Midland, Texas and his nephew William Van Edwards of Ponca City.
He is also survived by his seventeen grandchildren, Amie Klemmer (Howie), Beth Wallace (John), Meghan Buck (David), Leslie Goldman, Natalie Smith (Merrick), Trey Edwards, Travis Edwards, BJ Edwards (Kiley), Beau Edwards, Tyler Edwards, Polly Kranz (Zack), Sally Talley (Quinton), TJ Morris IV (Ali), Suzy Morris, Skip Morris, William Duke “Tripp” Edwards III (Haley), and Margo Edwards. Lastly, he was blessed with twenty-one great-grandchildren.
The Family will be having a small private memorial service on Thursday, November 5, 2020, officiated by John and Gale Young at the Big V Ranch.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.
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