Edward Drews

Edward Arthur Drews of Longview, Texas was born on July 25, 1941, to Arthur Drews and Lena Bethke-Drews in Marlin, Texas, Falls County. He left us in the early hours of October 21, 2024. We rejoice that he is Home with his Savior, healed and happy, but his absence leaves us broken hearted.

First and foremost, Edward will always be our cherished and beloved husband, devoted father, and treasured grandfather. He was a selfless, honorable man with deep core values that he lived out every day of his life. As a devoted father he raised his son alone and dedicated his life to being everything his young son needed.

Edward grew up in Falls County, in and around the town of Marlin, Texas. The oldest of four boys, he was raised in and actively involved in Grace Lutheran Church of Marlin. Later in life he became a Baptist and most recently became a member of Woodland Hills Baptist Church, Longview. Texas. Although his illness kept him from attending as often as he wanted, he was faithful to attend online when he couldn't be there in person. His love for the Lord was lived out daily in his kindness and giving attitude. He truly loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In his young years to help out at home, he assisted in a man's job of early morning milk delivery and then would hurry off to school. When he left Marlin as a young man, he moved to Dallas to his dream job at Braniff Airways, Dallas Love Field, which allowed him to travel, something he always loved. His years at Braniff also instilled a deep love of aviation, a love that he passed on to and lived out through his son's chosen career as an airline pilot.

When Braniff closed its doors in 1982, Edward began a career at Eastman Kodak Company in Dallas, Texas. This is where he met and married the love of his life, Linda Susan Boulware. They married on May 26, 1989, and lived in Farmers Branch, Texas until his career at Eastman Kodak took him to Georgia in 1996 where he blissfully settled down in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Weekend trips through the grand vistas of the North Georgia mountains fed his love of nature and sense of adventure. Many hours were spent on those beautiful winding roads. He often said, "You can drive all day and still be in Texas, but here in two hours you can be in five picturesque states."

He retired from Eastman Kodak, Chamblee, Georgia in 2005, completing 23 years of service. That's when he moved back to his beloved Texas to be near family, especially his grandchildren. He lived in Newton, Texas for fifteen years, and settled in Longview, Texas in 2020.

One of Edward's legacies is planting trees wherever he lived. He planted more than 60 trees on his 2.5-acre property alone, that transformed it from an empty canvas to a beautiful park-like acreage. He also enjoyed refinishing old furniture and restoring it to its former beauty.

Edward is preceded in death by his father, Arthur William Drews; his mother, Lena Ida Bethke-Drews; his brother, William Earl Drews; his grandson, Christian Edward Drews; and his sister-in-law, Lena Drews.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 35 years, Linda; his son, David Allan Drews and wife Marsha; grandsons: Austin Allan, Noah David, Ian Kenneth and granddaughter, Hope Evangeline; his brother, Gene Drews and wife, Joann; his brother, Leonard Drews; and his sister-in-law, Linda Faye Drews.

For years he has had a sign posted on the wall that reads: "Be kind to one another. Never wait till tomorrow to love. For someday there will be no tomorrows for one, and many tomorrows for the other." I'm grateful that we never let a day pass by without saying I love you in word or deed.

For now, our hearts are broken with the loss of our beloved Edward. We are looking forward to that day we can "Stroll over heaven together", my love.