Dr. Bob Shields Edwards

Dr. Bob Shields Edwards, 79, of Little Rock, went to be with our Lord Monday, June 11, 2012. He was born Aug. 15, 1932, in Blytheville, a son of the late Marvin Edwards and Grace Emboden Edwards. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bill Edwards.

Bob was an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. He received his doctorate at the Perkins School of Theology, and his masters of divinity at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. His undergraduate work was at Hendrix College. He served as pastor of numerous Methodist congregations in the central Arkansas area. He served as chaplain for the Arkansas State Senate and Arkansas Children's Hospital. He taught at Hendrix College and trained Chaplains at UAMS. He founded the Counseling Centers of Arkansas.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife Darlene Edwards of Little Rock;

Four children, his sons, Bob Edwards Jr., and his wife, Julie, of Susanville, Calif., Dennis Edwards of Dallas, and Rick Edwards and wife, Sally, of Dallas;

A daughter, Suzanne Webb, and husband, Joe, of Conway;

Eleven loved grandchildren, Lauren, Russ, Shields, Kendra, Keith, Caitlin, Garrett, Walker, Taylor, Emmalee and Allison;

A brother, Jerry Edwards of Kissimmee, Fla.; and

A sister, Mary Lou White of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The family would like to express their appreciation to Drs. Brad Baltz and Rhonda Gentry, and all the staff at Hematology-Oncology Services of Arkansas. Bob could not have made it through his last journey of life without the help of Audrey Stephens and Rhonda Sanders.

Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at Amboy United Methodist Church, 311 Military Road, North Little Rock, Ark., with the Rev. Wayne Jarvis, the Rev. Charles WAtts, and the Rev. Roger Armstrong officiating. Arrangements are by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, (501) 224-8300.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Amboy United Methodist Church, General Fund, 311 E. Military Drive, North Little Rock, Ark. 72118, or to Meals on Wheels, Carelink, P.O. Box 5988, North Little Rock, Ark. 72119.

An online guestbook is available at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal