OBITUARY: Sidney Glenn ‘Vicious’ Edwards

ADC Sidney Glenn ‘Vicious’ Edwards, USN Retired, age 63, passed away at his home in Burns, TN on Monday, July 15, 2024.

He was born in Austin, TX and grew up in San Marcos, TX where he was often seen in the halls and classrooms of Southwest Texas State University where his father taught biology/pre-med classes. Or floating down the river and hanging out at Aquarina or at the school where his mother taught.

Sid joined the Navy at 17 and set out to see the world. He was trained as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate (an aircraft engine mechanic) and ultimately expanded that knowledge to include most systems on the Sikorsky H-3 Sea King helicopter. At his first duty station in San Diego he encountered his first air crewmen as they returned from sea duty and decided then and there, that was what he wanted to do; so he took the training courses to become an air crewman and a rescue swimmer.

He served most of his 20 year career as a rescue swimmer in the Western Pacific, based out of Atsugi, Japan. He served on the carriers USS Midway, USS Coral Sea, and USS Blue Ridge among other ships and with multiple squadrons across the area. He was also stationed at Subic Bay, Philippines (VC-5); trained rescue swimmers for the Thai Navy; crossed the equator multiple times (shellback); and spent time in Singapore, Bali, Korea, and Thailand, as well as Japan. All which he recalled fondly in his ‘sea stories’.

His final duty station was back where he began his career, in San Diego. Not long after retiring from the Navy, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Aero Bureau sought him out to help them bring 4 retired USN H-3 helicopters into service for their Search and Rescue program (Air 5). While getting them set up, he ‘met’ his wife, Sabrina who was just a voice on the phone at first (she was in Atlanta) providing engineering and parts support for the recently converted aircraft. They did finally meet in person, nearly 3 years later and their relationship progressed from there. Sid kept Air 5 flying for 12 years, occasionally getting to assist with some of their search and rescue operations, especially ocean rescues. When LASD decided to retire the aircraft again, he also decided to retire again.

A few years later he was offered an opportunity to saddle up once again and be a consultant and training advisor on retired H-3s that had been transferred to the Indian Navy. He said that he discovered several were aircraft he had maintained / flown in during his career. This really wasn’t a surprise, he had over of 35 years working on and flying in the same air frame. He also had the opportunity during this time to work with the Indian Navy Search and Rescue / Rescue Swimmer team, offering them additional training from his experience, and they made him an honorary member of their group.

The rescue swimmers motto is ‘So Others May Live’. Sid said that he didn’t remember most of the ones he saved, but did remember the ones he didn’t.

Sid is preceded in death by his father, Sidney W. Edwards; and his mother, Ruth W. Peevy.

Sid is survived by his wife of 17 years, Sabrina Edwards of Burns, TN; son, Sid (Sarah) Edwards of San Antonio, TX; step-father, Buel Peevy of San Marcos, TX; sisters, Valerie King of Denver, CO, and Alison Edwards (Lee Van Fleet) of San Antonio, TX; granddaughters, Isabelle and Emma Edwards; niece and nephews, Sara King (Kyle), Chris King, Jackson Stewart, and Nathan Stewart; as well as furkids, Scooter, Smoke, and Dixie.

A Celebration of Life will be held in true sailor fashion at a later date where all will be able to hoist a beer and tell sea stories until duty launch time.

May he be doing now, what he loved doing most, flying with the Fleet Angels, keeping watch from above. Fair winds and following seas.

Arrangements by Spann Funeral Home & Cremation Services https://www.spannfuneralhome.com

For more obituaries visit https://dicksoncountysource.com/obituaries/