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Week of Thursday, July 22, 2004Doctor, community
leader ‘Doc’ Edmunds, By JUDY
BUSACK A staunch supporter of Ypsilanti, a man dedicated to preservation of the community and a doctor who made house calls because he believed his patients deserved personal care died Monday evening. Dr. William (Bill) Edmunds, 79, knew all his life he wanted to be a doctor, said his wife, Nathalie. Dr. Edmunds was born on Oct. 26, 1925 in St. Louis, but grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of a doctor. He attended the University of Michigan Medical School and started looking for a place to practice. "He wanted to have an individual practice," said Nathalie, "so we started looking around for a place to go. We drove all over Michigan looking. His dad said he (Dr. Edmunds) was missing something, the ‘place where you live.’" Nathalie’s family has lived in the Ypsilanti area for seven generations, but she said she didn’t want to pressure Dr. Edmunds to open a practice here. "He started looking at Ypsilanti and he realized it had everything he wanted. Good hospital facilities and all kinds of opportunity here." The Edmunds met at the University of Michigan and because both their last names began with "E" they were seated near each other in a class. Nathalie said they were good friends before they decided that the friendship had grown into something more and began dating, eventually marrying in December 1949. "He knew everything, he kind of annoyed me because he got an A on every paper," she said with a laugh. Dr. Edmunds first practice was on Washington Street in the Quirk Building. "He not only worked every day, but he had office hours two nights a week. He was always available," said Nathalie. Mike Kabat said, "He was a very traditional physician. He touched (people’s) lives with his work, Towner House, Heritage (foundation) or being their physician." Dr. Edmunds was 18 years old and in his first semester of college when he went into service during the Second World War. Nathalie said he was very proud of his service record. Dr. Edmunds was in the Army Air Corps. His unit was the 20th Air Force, 73rd wing, 498 bomb group, 873rd squadron and he flew B-29s. He served in the Pacific Theater and was stationed on Saipan. He flew at least 35 missions over Japan and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal, along with several other medals. He was a radar operator and gunner. When he returned to the states at the end of the war, he finished his education and opened his practice. Bob Kilpatrick, Eastern Michigan University supervisor in publications and his wife, Andrea Linn, were patients of Dr. Edmunds. "He was a good friend. He always had a story and he knew so much about the history around here. He had his hands in everything. He just helped people around here," said Kilpatrick. "He always would take the time (as a doctor). He would explain everything to you. He would talk, have a story and make you laugh. My only regret is I didn’t see him enough." Nathalie said she had received a letter from one of his patients recently who said she remembered "Doc" coming to her home during a snow storm, parking in the street and working his way through huge snow drifts to get to her home. The former patient also recalled a time that she was so sick she couldn’t get out of the car and the doctor came out and helped her into his office. Nathalie said he often took the couple’s four children on house calls with him. Dr. Edmunds encouraged his wife in all that she did. "He always encouraged me to do community things, and I got pretty involved. He was always very supportive of me ..." Betty Jones became friends with Dr. Edmunds through Nathalie. "I met Bill years ago when Nat was running for mayor and I was working on her campaign. He is just a warm, caring person. His love for Ypsilanti was overwhelming. He will be sorely missed by the community," said Jones. Besides being proud of his service record, Dr. Edmunds also cherished his memory of seeing Charles Lindberg take off from St. Louis before his solo flight across the Atlantic. Dr. Edmunds has a great devotion to historical preservation. "I was trying to remember when it started," said Nathalie, referring to Dr. Edmunds decision to try to stop the demolition of historic buildings in Ypsilanti. She said she believes it started around 1960, when he and three other men started Project 73. Project 73 was a group that wanted to preserve 19th century buildings in the area that were being threatened with destruction. Dr. Edmunds was one of the original organizers of the Ypsilanti Historical Society Museum and was still museum director at the time of his death. "He tried to retired from the directorship, but nobody would let him," said Nathalie. The Edmunds have four children, William P. III and his wife Sherrill of Monroe; George and his wife Mary, who live in Florida; daughter Christine, also of Florida; and Kathryn of Ypsilanti. The couple also has four grandchildren. When Nathalie said Dr. Edmunds’ family was with him and singing Welsh songs taught to them by their grandfather when he died. "They were all here and everyone was around him when he died. Bill’s father was very proud of the fact that he was 100 percent Welsh, and the Welsh love to sing," said Nathalie. "Bill’s father taught our kids Welsh hymns, in Welsh, when they were little. I had forgotten about that. They were standing (at Dr. Edmunds bedside) and they all started singing this song in Welsh." Per Dr. Edmunds request, there will no funeral and his remains will be buried in Highland Cemetery at a later date. Any memorial contributions may be made to the Ypsilanti Historical Society Museum. |
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