1962 Voyage

EDMONDSON, OK, 84, departed this life on Monday, February 20, 2006. OK was born December 30, 1921 in Tolbert, Texas to Martin and Annie Powers Edmondson. After serving in the Marine Corps in WWII, he spent his professional life teaching and leading others as he taught, coached and served as school administrator for many years. For over 20 years, he served the C-FB ISD, first as a counselor at Carrollton High School, then as a principal at Farmers Branch Elementary, Webb Chapel Elementary, Vivian Field Jr. High, and Central Elementary. He was a member and deacon at First Baptist Church, Carrollton for many years. Survivors: Loving wife of 62 years, Mildred Ricks Edmondson of Carrollton; sons, Kent Edmondson and his wife Nancy of Argyle; Ricks Edmondson and his wife Carol of Krum; Greg Edmondson and his wife Laura of Mansfield; and daughter-in-law Kay Edmondson of Carrollton; along with six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral: 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2006 at First Baptist Church, Carrollton. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, February 23, 2006 at Metrocrest Funeral Home. Metrocrest 972-242-3646

The Dallas Morning News - February 23, 2006
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

OK EDMONDSON - Carrollton educator fostered family atmosphere at school
Dallas Morning News, The (TX) - March 5, 2006
Author: JON NIELSEN, Staff Writer

For more than 20 years as a school administrator, OK Edmondson was known for his soft-spoken, gentlemanly manner.

He maintained "old-fashioned values" and ensured that teachers and students in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school district were treated like close relatives, his family said.

"It was a wonderful atmosphere, and it was all because of him," said Nell Brown, who was a second-grade teacher at Central Elementary School. "The principal makes the schools. It was just like a family, and he was head of the family."

Mr. Edmondson died of pneumonia Feb. 20 at Trinity Hospital. He was 84. Services were Feb. 24 at First Baptist Church in Carrollton.

A West Texas native, Mr. Edmondson grew up in Quanah, Texas, where he was a standout athlete. At one point, he and two of his 12 brothers were the backfield of the Quanah football team, with Mr. Edmondson, the youngest, at quarterback.

It was also at Quanah that he decided to make teaching his career. After graduating from high school, he had two choices: go to work at the local wallboard plant or go to college. One of his high school teachers persuaded him to continue his education.

"He never thought about it much, I don't think, until the teacher talked to him," said Mr. Edmondson's son, Ricks Edmondson of Krum.

Mr. Edmondson attended what is now the University of North Texas before he joined the Marine Corps and transferred to Louisiana Tech University. He earned his physical education degree from Louisiana Tech and moved back to West Texas to begin his teaching career.

He taught in the O'Brien and Quanah school systems. He served as principal and coach and taught science at O'Brien and was school superintendent in Turkey, Texas, before moving to Carrollton in the late 1950s.

Upon his move to Carrollton, he became a counselor at Carrollton High School, then served as principal at Farmers Branch Elementary, Webb Chapel Elementary, Vivian Field Junior High and Central Elementary.

Mr. Edmondson retired in the early 1970s. As a retirement gift, the teachers at Central, including Mrs. Brown, gave Mr. Edmondson a quilt with patches created by all of the teachers. She created a patch commemorating one of Mr. Edmondson's hobbies, playing the domino game 42 with friends.

"At the visitation, they had that quilt hanging on the wall. It was the first time I had seen the quilt since he had retired," Mrs. Brown said. "I couldn't remember what square I had done. I finally found the square ... then I remembered giving him a perfect hand in 42."

In addition to his son, Mr. Edmondson is survived by his wife, Mildred Ricks Edmondson of Carrollton; sons Kent Edmondson of Argyle and Greg Edmondson of Mansfield; six grandchildren; and two great-grand- children.

The Dallas Morning News - February 23, 2006
Submitted by Edward Lynn Williams

OK EDMONDSON
US MARINE CORPS
WWII
DEC 30, 1921 - FEB 20, 2006

Hilltop Memorial Park, Carrollton, Dallas County, Texas