Billy Edens

Billy G. Edens, 94, of Chattanooga, died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, at Memorial Hixson Hospital after a brief illness. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Billy and his wife Kitty settled in Chattanooga after a 32-year military career that took the family to various bases across the U.S. and Europe. He began his second career as a financial advisor with American Express, retiring again after 29 years. Billy was a member of St. Luke Methodist Church and was active in the Downtown Lions Club of Chattanooga. Raised in Tyronza, Ark., the colonel began his military career in 1942 training to fly gliders, eventually piloting single-engine P-47 and P-51 fighter aircraft with the 56th Fighter Group in World War II. He was a fighter ace, flying 83 missions that included being shot down, captured, and escaping multiple times, eventually being held as a POW for 13 months. After WWII, he served in every conflict until his retirement, flying F-84’s in the Korean War and completing two tours of duty in Vietnam. Billy was preceded in death by his wife, Kitty Jean; his parents, Georgia Edens and Fred Edens, of Tyronza, Ark.; his brother, Max J. Edens, of Marked Tree, Ark.; and his daughter-in-law, Rebecca Edens, of Chattanooga. He is survived by his sister, Marietta Green, currently of Memphis, Tenn. Survivors also include two sons, Scott Edens and Michael Edens (Dawn), both of Chattanooga; two daughters, Phyllis Artz (John), of Dayton, Ohio, and Nancy Larimer (Michael), of Kennesaw, Ga.; He was a grandfather to eight grandchildren: Jennifer (Dave), Francis (Wendy), Erin (Adam), Jeff, Eden (Eric), Susan (Marcelo), Courtney and Storm, and was a great-grandfather to: Shelby, Hayden, Megan, Tate, Emily, Turner, and Jack. Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, at North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343. A family burial service will be held at the Chattanooga National Cemetery, officiated by Billy’s colleague and friend, Alan Johnston. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.