Rod Edwards

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Biography

Rodney was born in 1932 at the The Salvation Army Maternity Home in Oakland, CA. He lived with his mother for a few years in the San Fransisco area while she attended the California School of Fine Arts as a oil painter on scholarship.

When Rod was around 6 years old they move to Los Angeles. There he spent time between his father's mother Rosine Saulque and his mother's home.

Obituary

The Los Angeles Times 27 Jul 2010

EDWARDS, Rodney David (78), passed away at his home in Newhall, CA surrounded by his loving family, following a brief struggle with cancer on July 24, 2010.

Rod was born on February 29, 1932 to Eloise Edwards and Gilbert Leon Pierre Saulque in Oakland, CA. As a child, Rod attended the Army & Navy Academy, a military school in Carlsbad, CA and the Elsinore Naval Academy in Elsinore, CA. He was a graduate of Los Angeles Trade Tech.

He started his business career as a boy selling the Los Angeles Examiner and Times newspapers on Sunday morning at 6th and Western Ave. He also sold the Colliers magazine and the Saturday Evening Post door to door. He grew up during the Great Depression and WWII in Los Angeles, where he divided his time between his mother and his paternal grandmother, Rosine (Ranguis) Saulque, who was from La Coche, Hautes Alpes, France. She spoke very little English, and he acted as her translator. Rod talked about attending the movie theaters in the heyday of Hollywood, where the actors would come on stage before the start of their films. He vividly recollected going to see "Singing in the Rain" when Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor came on stage to dance a few steps and talk with the audience. "I sure loved Debbie Reynolds." This led to a life long enjoyment of movies.

Rod married Nancy Louise Jondreau of Michigan on Aug. 10, 1962 in Los Angeles. Rod and Nancy had five children together. Supporting his family was Rod's primary mission in life. He was a successful family man that always tried to put love in his heart. He often said, "don't do anything that lets hate into your heart; only do things that put love in your heart." Rod was very passionate about oil painting. Rod painted light and color and strove to capture the essence of nature as one feels its presence. He enjoyed painting in the California Impressionist style of en Plien air. He was a member of the Oil Painters of America. He started his own sign shop, Rod Edwards Sign Co., in Granada Hills in 1968 and in 1969 started Associated Signs in Los Angeles. Several years later, he expanded his business to include a silk screen printing company which he called Aero Display Inc. In 1972, Rod moved his family to Placerita Canyon in Newhall and brought Aero Display Inc., with him. Several years later in 1976, Rod created Canyon Outdoor Advertising which was later re-named Edwards Outdoor Advertising. Rod is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Nancy. His children: ( Living Persons Removed From Obit)

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Gilbert Avery Saulque, and his son, Rod Anthony Edwards. Viewing from 5 to 9 PM on July 28, 2010, and memorial on the 29th at 1:00 PM will be performed at the chapel at Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary with Rev. Msgr. Martini and Daniel Veluzet officiating. Graveside services to be held directly after.

Sources

• Birth Certificate of Rodney David Edwards, Local Reg #665.

Death: Personal recollection, 29 Jul 2010

• Find A Grave memorial page for Rodney David “Rod” Edwards (29 Feb 1932–24 Jul 2010), Find A Grave Memorial no. 119407296, citing San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, Los Angeles County, California, USA. Find A Grave: Memorial #119407296