Charles J. Edens Jr.

Published 4:49 pm Friday, November 4, 2016

Charles J. Edens Jr., 86, of Johnson City, Tenn., passed away after a lengthy illness on September 23, 2016. He was a native of Carter County, Tenn., and the son of the late Charles J. Edens Sr. and Luda Edens Peters. He graduated from Happy Valley High School in 1948 and received his B.S. in Business Administration from East Tennessee State University in 1955. Charles was a four-year letterman in basketball at ETSU.
Mr. Edens was an active citizen and businessman in Carter County, holding several positions in local and state government. He served Carter County in the House of Representatives in the Tennessee 84th General Assembly. He was a United States Air Force veteran of the Korean War.
He was a member of Boones Creek Christian Church and former member of Westside Christian Church where he served as a deacon.
In addition to his parents, his sister, Bernice Edens, and his wife, Betty J. Edens of 57 years, preceded Charles in death.
Survivors include his two sons, Charles “Chuck” Edens III and his wife Ivonne of Forked River, N.J., and Steve Edens and his wife Robin of Johnson City, Tenn.; a daughter, Jill Clark and her husband David of Elizabethton, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Christopher Edens, Nashville, Tenn., Stephanie Hardin, Johnson City, Tenn., Kelly White, Orlando, Fla., Paul Clark, Jordan Edens and Nick Cavella, Johnson City, Tenn.; and eight great-grandchildren, Gemma, Zoey and Clive Edens, Jackson and Liam White, Amelie Clark, Veda Hardin and Claire Cavella.
A graveside and Military Honor service will be conducted Thursday, November 10, at 2 p.m. at Happy Valley Memorial Park, 2708 Elizabethton Hwy., Johnson City, Tenn. Please meet at the cemetery at 1:45 p.m. A Celebration of Life service will be held Thursday, November 10, at 5:30 p.m. at Boones Creek Christian Church with David Clark, minister, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Boones Creek Christian Church – Hunger to Hope Fund, 305 Christian Church Road, Gray, TN 37615. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.dillow-taylor.com.
Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Jonesborough, (423) 753-3821.