BRUNSWICK — Harold “Bud” Edwards Jr. died peacefully at his home surrounded by family on May 16, 2016 at the age of 92.

Bud was born in Syracuse, New York on May 30, 1923 to Marian McMath and Harold Edwards. He attended Pebble Hill School and Deerfield Academy, graduating in 1941.All of his summers –including a final trip last summer — were spent at his family’s beloved summer home, “PAOWNYC”, located in the central Adirondacks. He attended Williams College and was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, class of 1946, and Harvard Business School, class of 1949. He served on a destroyer as a first lieutenant in World War II in the Pacific Theater and in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953.

After the war and business school, he returned to Syracuse with his wife Sarah Shove whom he had married in 1951 and together started their family of 5 children. He went to work for the family business, The O.M. Edwards Company founded in 1887 by his grandfather Oliver Murray Edwards. After his father Harold Edwards Sr retired, he served as President and then as the Chairman of the Board until the company closed in 1987. Bud was devoted to his community and served on the following Boards: Pebble Hill School the Central New York Community Foundation, First Presbyterian Church, Young Presidents’ Organization, Sedgwick Farms Tennis Club, Syracuse Council of Churches, Marine Midland Bank, the Syracuse YMCA, and the Excel Corporation.

In 1989 Bud retired to Brunswick, Maine with his wife Sarah and became active in the community and on Orrs Island where they had a summer home. His wife Sarah died in 1997. Bud’s continued to serve in the community, supporting the Orrs Island Fire Department, Independence Association, Island’s Community Church where he was a Sunday school teacher and sang in the choir. He also was a volunteer at the Mid-Coast Hospital.

An enthusiastic singer, an avid athlete and traveler, Bud was always studying and learning. He was able to combine his interests in Shakespeare and religion with all of his other passions throughout his life. He was a wonderful storyteller with a keen sense of humor as he recounted his travels to Africa, Antartica, Europe, the Holy Lands, the Caribbean and Asia. Bud also cruised and raced his sailboat “Naiad” along the Maine Coast and as far North as Greenland and the Northwest Passage and raced many times in the Monhegan Island Race and the Marblehead-Halifax Race. An avid skier, tennis player and tuna fisherman (he pulled in a 545 lbs. blue fin tuna while fishing on his much loved boat “Big Ben”), Bud was also a man of deep faith, who loved to read and study the Bible, often sharing verses aloud.

In 2001 he married Susan Chafee Welch of Bethany, Connecticut and they had 15 wonderful years together. Bud is survived by his wife and his 5 children: Marian Bateman and son-in-law John Bateman of Ojai CA, Sarah (Sally) Edwards and son-in-law David Shorey of Falmouth ME, Benjamin Edwards of Syracuse NY, Helen (Honnie) Edwards and partner Hortensia Lanio of St, Croix, USVI and Margaret (Meg) Edwards of Falmouth, ME and his four grandchildren, Christopher Fletcher, William Edwards, Harold Edwards, sons of Honnie, and Annie Gott, daughter of Meg. He is remembered by his many friends and relatives who adored him.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Barbara Edwards Stuart (Bobbie) and Frances Edwards Hancock (Dooie).

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday June 11, 2016, at First Parish Church, Maine Street, Brunswick, Maine. A private interment will take place in Orr’s Island Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Central New York Community Foundation of Syracuse NY, 431 East Fayette Street, Suite 100,Syracuse, NY 13202, the Islands Community Church, Po Box 281, Bailey Island, Maine 04003-0281, the Orr’s Island Library, PO Box 175, Orr’s Island, ME 04066, or Tedford Housing PO Box 958, Brunswick, ME 04011.