Edward Philip Edwardson, age 81, of Byron Center, Michigan, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2026. He was born on March 17, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, to William and Ruth (Wootton) Edwardson.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, William and Ruth Edwardson; and his brother, Bill Edwardson.

On December 23, 1967, Ed married the love of his life, Ginnie (Frost) Edwardson. Together, they shared nearly 59 years of marriage and built a beautiful family. Ed will be lovingly remembered by Ginnie; his brothers, James Edwardson and Walter Edwardson; and his three children, Scott and Danielle (Kossick) Edwardson, Stephen and Jennifer (Phillips) Edwardson, and Laura (Edwardson) and Dan Lam. He was a proud and loving grandfather to Kaitlin, Andrew, Haley, Joshua, Jacob, Jackson, and Cody.

Ed dedicated four decades of his life to serving others through a distinguished career in law enforcement. His career began in 1966 as a patrol officer with the City of Albion and concluded in 2006 as Chief of the Wyoming Police Department. Throughout his career, he served as Assistant Chief of Police for the City of Big Rapids, Chief of Police for the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Police Commissioner of Warren, Chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and ultimately Chief of the Wyoming Police Department.

Ed was a devoted public servant who approached every position with integrity, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to the communities he served. His influence extended beyond his work in law enforcement as he also enjoyed teaching and mentoring the next generation of criminal justice professionals. He taught at several universities, including Lake Superior State University and Grand Valley State University, sharing his knowledge and experience with students across Michigan.

While Ed was immensely proud of his career, there was much more to him than his professional accomplishments. He had a lifelong passion for music and enjoyed time spent boating and fishing. He appreciated good spirits and had a wonderful sense of loyalty when it came to his favorite teams. He was a long-suffering Detroit Lions fan, an avid Red Wings follower, and his devotion to the University of Michigan bordered on religious.

Yet, for all of his accomplishments and interests, nothing compared to the joy Ed found in his family. He was especially devoted to his grandchildren and took great pride in supporting their interests, attending their activities, and simply being present in their lives. His greatest joy was watching his family grow and knowing that the people he loved were doing what they enjoyed.

Ed leaves behind a legacy of service, dedication, humor, and love. While his career touched countless lives throughout Michigan, his greatest legacy will always be the family he loved so deeply. He will be dearly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, brothers, extended family, and the many friends and colleagues who had the privilege of knowing him.

Memorial services will be held at 11 am on Saturday September 19, at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. Relatives and friends may meet the family Friday, September 18 from 4-7 pm at the funeral home. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Community Inclusive Recreation.