Dr. William Gye Edwards Jr. passed away Saturday, July 22, 2017, in Colton, California. He had been battling cancer for several years. Dr. Edwards was born January 14, 1942, in Ettrick, Va., to the late William Gye Edwards Sr. and Lorraine Outlaw Edwards.

He leaves in precious memory six children: Stoney (Melissa); Kimberli; Monique (Paul); Inga (Karriem); Heather (Victor); William Scott. Also 15 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, stepmother Earshler Edwards; one brother Norman Edwards (Qwen); one Uncle Daniel Edwards, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was a graduate of Southside High School Dinwiddie,Va., a graduate of Union University with a Bachelor of Science degree, in the Alpha Omega Fraternity in Richmond, Va. He worked in the sanitation department in Norfolk,Va., for two years.

He graduated from Howard University in Washington D.C. with a Master’s degree. He also graduated from University of Virginia Medical School. Dr. Edwards then served in the U.S. Navy at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Md., and then transferred to Naval Hospital Pensacola, Pensacola, Fla., and Long Beach Naval Hospital, Long Beach, Calif.

He then started his private practice in family medicine, obstetrics, and gynecology at Parkview Hospital, Riverside Community Hospital and Riverside County Hospital where he was on staff and resided in Riverside, Calif.