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Wesley Floyd “Toothpick” Edwards, 96, died Thursday, November 26, 2020 at Vidant North Hospital in Roanoke Rapids, NC due to complications from COVID-19. 

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A native of Seaboard, Toothpick was the son of Ed Lewis and Lena Barnes Edwards, who preceded him in death. Also predeceasing him are his sisters, Pauline E. Lukes, Ernestine E. Kelly and Vernie E. Davenport and his lifelong companion, Doris Hedden.

Toothpick graduated from Seaboard High School and then joined the U.S. Navy in June, 1942. He became a Navy pilot and later a flight instructor. 

The story is told that Toothpick, ever the prankster, while stationed at Oceana Naval Base in Norfolk, VA, would fly his jet plane down Main Street in Seaboard so low that he returned to the base with tree limbs from Maude Stancell’s elm tree in his landing gear. 

That lasted until a citizen made a call to his commanding officer at the base to find out who was flying planes in the Seaboard area. The evidence was found in the landing gear. That put an end to buzzing Seaboard. 

Toothpick was all set to go into active duty during the Korean War until injuries from a plane crash in the summer of 1950 changed that. He received an honorable discharge from the Navy Reserves in June, 1961. 

After leaving the service, Toothpick lived in Winter Haven, Florida. 

He continued to fly private planes for citrus growers in the Winter Haven area. After retiring from flying, he and Doris loved to travel the eastern seaboard and mountains of NC to enjoy their hobby of bird watching. Each one had a logbook that documented what bird was seen where and when. 

A sister, Delano E. Davis of Pleasant Hill, NC and nieces, Verlene Stephenson, Peggy Harris, Patty Short, Ann Carter, Barbara Milby, Clara Kelly, Jackie Davis and nephews, Stuart Taylor, James Davenport, Charles Davenport, Ed Davis and John Davis survive him.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Northampton Nursing and Rehabilitation for the care they gave him during his stay there since May, 2019.

Due to COVID restrictions, a memorial service will be held at a later date.