John Ralph Edwards

John Ralph Edwards of Glendale passed away on September 15, 2011. He was a retired Vice President of JBL Hi Fi loudspeaker manufacturer and later an Asset Manager for The Equitable Real Estate Investment Management, Inc.

Mr. Edwards attended Woodbury College from 1937 - 1939 and became an Executive for the Interstate Bakeries - Dolly Madison Cakes and Weber’s Bread.

Three weeks after Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent 3 years at The Naval Air Facility at Yakutat, Alaska as the Commander’s only Yeoman. Later he was assigned to the South Pacific aboard the attack transport U.S.S. Hinsdale. He saw the flag raised on Mount Surabachi. Their ship was transformed into a hospital. The next assignment for Transport Division #44 was to participate in the invasion of Okinawa with the Marine division aboard. During the invasion the Hinsdale was hit by Kamikaze planes and was severely damaged with many lives lost. John was the only one below deck to survive.

After the war Mr. Edwards worked for the Veterans Administration appraising homes to be purchased by returning veterans.

Mr. Edwards helped to form a company that manufactured JBL speakers in 1948 and helped build that company from 3 employees to 400. He was also a director of James B. Lansing Sound, Inc and the Casitas Company Inc. After those companies were sold he joined the employment of The Equitable Real Estate Investment and Management, Inc. as Asset Manager and managed several of their downtown Los Angeles high rise office buildings.

He was Vice-President of Glendale’s Family YMCA, Director of Glendale’s Verdugo Club, member of Los Angeles Athletic Club, Chairman of Board of Trustees of 1st Baptist Church of Glendale, Sunday School Superintendent. Later he became and active member of Calvary Bible Church, Burbank.

He has been married to Dorothy since 1947. He leaves behind four children: John Drake (Canyon Country), Pamela McMeins (Valencia), Candace Gervis (Sherman Oaks), Susan Nikiforuk (Saugus), ten grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at Calvary Bible Church, 1101 S Main St., Burbank, CA on Wednesday September 21, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Calvary Bible Church Building Fund.

John has been a resident of Glendale since 1940.