Edward Sands

Prior to the funeral service on Tuesday, family and friends are invited to a noon luncheon from 11:30 to 12:30 at the Malvern Community Building.

Edward Gene Sands, one of four children of Albert Gene and Mable Alice (Lafferty) Sands, was born March 1, 1922, on the family farm known as Sands' Hill, located between Elliott and Griswold, IA. Ed grew up in the Oakland , IA area and attended the Oakland schools. He served in the U.S. Army from November 1942 to February 1945. Following the service, Ed returned to Oakland and worked for area farmers including Harold and Faye Smith near Emerson, IA; It was there where Ed met Delsie Faye Brown who was helping Faye Smith with the housekeeping.
Ed and Delsie were united in marriage on August 13, 1949, at the Christian Church in Red Oak, IA., where they also made their home. Ed worked at the Ko-Z-Air furnace factory. In 1950, the family moved to Sheridan, MO, and later to Hopkins, MO, where Ed once again did farming. In 1955, the family moved back to Oakland, IA; Ed worked on several farms before moving to the Richard Hyde farm. In 1968, the family moved to their present home on 2nd Avenue in Malvern. Ed was a member of the First Baptist Church in Malvern for many years; In 1982, he became a charter member of the newly founded Bible Baptist Church in Glenwood, IA. In November of 1999, due to failing health, Ed moved into the Glen Haven Nursing Home in Glenwood. In 2002, Ed moved to the Manor of Malvern where he continued to reside until he went to be with the Lord on December 5, 2003. He had attained the age of 81 years, 9 months, and 4 days.
In 1967, while walking beans, their daughter Alice was fatally struck by lightening. Others that preceded Ed in death were his parents, daughter Alice, brother Donald Sands, and brother-in-law, Joe Cox.
He is survived by: his wife Delsie of Malvern; sons Edward and wife Kathy of Sergeant Bluff, IA; Richard and wife Diane of Malvern, IA; Mike and wife Susan of Kansas City, MO; and Byron and wife Cindy of Glenwood, IA; and daughter Debbie and husband Darwin Dhone of Gower, MO; brother Wayne Sands and his wife Collene of Red Oak, IA; and sister Alberta Cox of Albany, OR; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, other family members relatives and friends.
Ed and Delsie were married 54 years. Their marriage was blessed with six children, Edward Jerome, Richard Allen, Alice Fayette, Michael Steven, Debra Jean, and Byron Gale. Ed's favorite past times included: drawing, horseshoes, playing cards (especially Pinochle). He loved being with his family and going on car rides to get root beer floats.