Bill Edge began as a sharecropper, spent 31 years building cars at Chrysler

Billie Harold “Bill” Edge, 85, of Rockton, IL, passed away on Monday, September 11, 2023, at Beloit Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family.

Bill, an amazing provider who put family first, was known as a hard worker and loved by many. Bill was an awarded employee of Chrysler for 31 years prior to his retirement in 1999, when he expanded his task of helping his family, friends, and neighbors by repairing automobiles, bicycles, and lawn equipment until his passing. Bill also held positions at several other notable companies such as Admiral TV, Lock Joint Pipe, and Flex-a-Core.

Bill was born at home on November 5, 1937, the third child of Lawrence and Lucille (Harrington) Edge in Parma, MO. He was never able to complete his education past grade school, as he was supporting his family’s share crop farming operations in the Mississippi Delta. Bill quickly realized that the life of a share crop farmer didn’t fit his outlook on life and set out on his life’s journey exploring what he could do to support his ambitions. Those travels resulted in finding his wife, Nancy. Together they raised three children—Duane, Todd, and Melissa—whom he loved and cared for very much. He was blessed with several grandchildren as well: Ashley, Tyler, Forrest, and Autumn. Grandpa, or Papa as he was affectionately known, enjoyed watching, participating with, and assisting them by mentoring them into adulthood. Bill was an avid fan of the Bears and NASCAR racing, rarely missing a race or game. He could be found among his friends at the local McDonald’s solving all the world’s problems. Bill was also known as a very charitable person who helped many through their life challenges, as he could relate with his early life challenges.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Nancy; sons, Duane Edge of Rockford, IL, and Todd (Melissa) Edge of Roscoe, IL; daughter, Melissa (Wayne) Lloyd of Beloit, WI; grandchildren, Ashley Edge (Kevin Connor), Tyler Edge (Joshua Posey), Forrest (Claire) Lloyd, and Autumn Lloyd; sisters, Gladys Jean (Edge) Coburn-Gofourth and Linda Lou (Edge) McKuhen; stepbrothers, Freddie and Gene; and stepsister, Ann Marie.

Billie was predeceased by his parents; siblings, Retha Bell (Edge) Coburn-Amos, Douglas Edge, Julette Edge, and Clovis Edge; and favorite uncle, Billy Harrington.

A funeral service for Bill will be at 12 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2023, in the Family Worship Center, 1021 Cranston Rd., Beloit, WI, with Pastor Adam Meyer officiating. Burial will be in Floral Lawn Cemetery. A Visitation of Remembrance will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday in the Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 2355 Cranston Rd., Beloit, WI. There will also be a visitation from 11 a.m. until the time of service Friday in the church.