Frank Raymond Edwards, 94, died February 13, 2026, at UnityPoint-Trinity Hospital in Rock Island, Ill.

Visitation will be 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 22, at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 3030 7th Avenue, Rock Island. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 23 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 2502 29th Avenue, Rock Island, Ill., followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island. 

Frank was born September 15, 1931, in Rock Island, Illinois, the youngest child of F. Ray and Ina (Johnson) Edwards. A lifelong Rock Islander other than his college and Army years, he spent his youthful summers with his siblings and cousins at their camps at the confluence of the Rock and Mississippi rivers. It was there his family unearthed a Native American canoe now on display at the Hauberg Museum at Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island.

He graduated from Rock Island High School in 1949, where he lettered in football and added baseball in his senior year. He remained close to his friends from the Class of 1949 his entire life. He graduated from University of Notre Dame and served in the U.S. Army before earning a law degree at University of Illinois.

In 1954, mutual friends introduced Frank to Rosalyn Connolly, which sparked a 70-plus year love affair, which lasted beyond her death in 2024. After they married on April 16, 1955,  they had six children, Teresa, Jim, Tom, Sue, Mary, and Liz.

He practiced law in the Quad Cities for 55 years and was active with the Bar Association.

He loved hosting his Class of ‘49, law school, and law firm friends for parties at his and Rose’s home, especially if the party involved firing up the Weber grill and opening a bottle of wine. After their children grew up, he and Rose enjoyed traveling to visit their grandchildren and visiting presidential libraries and wineries along the way.

Frank is survived by his children, Teresa Adams, Jim (Cindy) Edwards, Tom Edwards (Ann Heiden), Susan (Scott) Kies, Mary (Keith) Johnson, and Liz Boardman; 13 grandchildren and their spouses/partners; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, his son-in-law, parents, six siblings and an additional two brothers who died shortly after birth.

The family thanks Dr. Shawn Keevan, and the staffs at Friendship Manor and UnityPoint-Trinity Rock Island for their care.

Memorials may be made in Frank's honor to Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park Foundation, 1510 46th Ave., Rock Island, IL 61201.