C. Lowell Edwards M.D.

C. Lowell Edwards, M.D.
Born December 16, 1928 in Goshen, Indiana, son of Chester A. Edwards and Lona (Cripe) Edwards. Married Betty (Cool) Edwards on September 7, 1952. Graduated from Manchester College, North Manchester, Indiana, in 1950; and Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, in 1954. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1960, and was certified as a Member of the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1963. He also completed a fellowship in Research on the Therapeutic Use of Radioactive Isotopes at the Oak Ridge (Tennessee) Institute of Nuclear Studies. He was the author or co-author of numerous scholarly articles. Lowell devoted his entire medical career to public service, beginning with primary care and education in the US Public Health Service (Crow Agency, Montana, and Staten Island, New York City); and then as Chief Clinician of the Medical Division at Oak Ridge (Tennessee) Associated Universities, where Lowell and his colleagues conducted pioneering work in the field of nuclear medicine. In 1975 Lowell joined the faculty of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, becoming Director of the University Primary Care Clinic in Mount Morris, educating medical students and providing care to many patients. He retired in 1997 as Associate Professor Emeritus after also serving for two years as interim Head of what is now the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Lowell was dedicated to preservation and restoration of land through the Natural Land Institute and Severson Dells Environmental Nature Center. His commitment to education continued as a tutor with the Literacy Council (co-founded by his wife Betty) and Spring Creek Elementary School, representing Spring Creek United Church of Christ, where he was a member for nearly 40 years and served in many leadership roles. He was also an active member and advocate for numerous other organizations in our local and global community. Lowell was the recipient of the Golden Apple teaching award from the students at UIC College of Medicine three times, and together with Betty, was the Alpine Kiwanis “Touch A Life” award recipient in 2006. Lowell is survived by his wife of 62 years, their four daughters: Marcia (John) Harris of Indianapolis, IN; Karla (Dan) McGrail of Cedar Rapids, IA; Krista Edwards (John Cline) of Arlington, VA, and Lora McClelland (Michael Simmons) of Rockford. Never was there a grandfather more proud of his family. He leaves behind a legacy of memories and the challenge to also make a difference in this world to Stephanie (Lee) Stone, Michele Harris, and Chrissy Harris; Nick McGrail and Cheyanne (Jen Miller) McGrail; Mariel, Julia, and Jack Cline; and Donovan and Connor McClelland. Lowell is also survived by his brother Dr. Wendell (Dr. Judy) Edwards of Sun City, Arizona; 2 great-grandchildren, Abigail and John Stone; and numerous nieces, nephews and special friends. Lowell is predeceased by his parents, and by his siblings, Donald, Eileen, Beryl, Gerald. and Bonnie.
A service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, December 27th at 11 AM, preceded by visitation at 10 am, both in Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, Illinois 61114. In leiu of flowers, contributions in Lowell’s honor may be given to one of the organizations he supported: Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road, Rockford, IL 61102, www.seversondells.org; Manchester University, www.manchester.edu; Heifer International, www.heifer.org; Spring Creek United Church of Christ Building Fund, www.springcreekucc.org or the Natural Land Institute, www.naturalland.org. Arrangements completed by Fitzgerald Funeral Home Riverside Chapel. Express online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com