Ted David Edmondson, 77, of Columbus died October 9, 2023 at 8:15 p.m. Born August 26, 1946 at Maude Norton Hospital in Columbus, Ted was the son of Shade Thomas and Esther Lucille (Relf) Edmondson. He was their first child born in a hospital. His older siblings were Patricia Ann Bendure and Stanley Denton Edmondson.
Ted’s education started at Mount Pleasant, a oneroom school located a mile and a half west of his childhood home. He attended Melrose School for grades five thru eight, where he was greatly influenced by his teacher, Mrs. Agnes McNemar.
Ted’s first love and best friend was a horse named Scout. He spent a lot of time feeding and riding her. His first heartbreak dealing with loss was when she died of anthrax during an outbreak in the mid 50s.
A graduate of the class of 1964 at Cherokee County Rural High School, Ted graduated with honors Among other things, he was President of the National Honor Society.
Ted was active in the Whistling Bob Whites 4-H Club where in the summer of 1964 he won the Cherokee County and State of Kansas Champion Tractor Driver competition. He went on to place seventh at the National 4-H Tractor Driving competition in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
During high school, his main interests were farming, making good grades, hot-rodding his Ford and expanding his interest in girls. As a stutterer, he found the latter to be somewhat difficult.
He enrolled at Kansas State University to become a nuclear engineer, but changed his major to Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of Pi Tau Sigma, an honorary mechanical engineering fraternity.
In the fall of 1966, while home for Thanksgiving Ted met the true love of his life, Rebecca L. Stice on Commercial Street in Oswego. It was true love at first sight for Ted and exactly one year later, they became engaged. Ted and Rebecca were united in marriage August 11, 1968, at the First United Presbyterian Church of Oswego, a union that would last a lifetime.
As newlyweds, Ted and Rebecca lived in Manhattan for nine months. Upon Ted’s graduation from Kansas State University the couple moved to Wichita where Ted was employed at Boeing Aircraft in the engineering department working on the B-52, 747 cargo handling and America’s version of the Supersonic Transport (SST).
Early in the summer of 1971, they moved back to Cherokee County to begin his farming career with his dad and brother. Ted and Rebecca have lived on the same farm since 1971. In 1999, Ted and son, Chris, formed Edmondson Farms where Ted was actively involved until early 2023.
Ted served over 30 years as a member of the Cherokee County Rural Water District #3, serving as president for several years. He was a registered Girl Scout, taking the troop to Branson campouts and working at the Fair Kitchen. Ted also served as a chaperone to students’ State and National competitions for Business Professionals of America.
He was a lifetime member of the Kansas State University Alumni Association and National Rifle Association. He held membership with Farmers Cooperative Association, Cherokee County Farm Bureau, Kansas Soybean Association, American Soybean Association, Kansas Corn Growers Association and American Corn Growers Association.
Ted accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior during his grade school years at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, rural Columbus, his home church until marriage. He became a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Oswego with his bride, where he served on the session. In 1985 he joined the First United Methodist Church of Columbus where he remained active until his time of death. He served on the Board of Trustees, Church Council and various committees.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother.
Ted is survived by his wife, Rebecca, of the home; children Amenda Ann Lacy (Benjamin) of Bentonville, Ark. and Christopher David Edmondson of Columbus; and five grandchildren, Sophia Ann Lacy, Thomas Jacob Lacy, John David Lacy, Olivia Anne Edmondson and Owen Christopher Edmondson.
Visitation to be held Friday, October 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 611 S. East Avenue, in Columbus.
A service will be held Saturday, October 14, 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 320 W. Maple, in Columbus. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery In lieu of flowers, please donate to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 20, Columbus, KS 66725.