Dec. 28, 1940 – Nov. 24, 2022
They named him “Traveling Phil.”
Winner of several a trophy at area vehicle racing tracks, Philip Jay Edwards experienced a lifelong love of cars as a driver, mechanic and salesman.
In the 1970s, he owned Edwards Chevrolet, a Chevrolet and Oldsmobile dealership in Attica. For a single season, 1980, he was owner of what is now Lancaster Motor Speedway, in which he raced modified inventory cars.
He died unexpectedly Nov. 24 in his property in Amherst. He was 81.
Born in Plattsburgh, the oldest of four little ones, Mr. Edwards grew up in the Enjoy Canal neighborhood in Niagara Falls and was a member of the Class of 1958 at LaSalle Substantial Faculty.
He enlisted in the Navy, turned an plane engine mechanic and attained the rank of E-5. He was stationed at bases in Hawaii and Washington State.
Returning from services, he lived in Attica and was a salesman for Don Allen Chevrolet in Buffalo. He went on to open Edwards General performance, a racing tools shop on Bailey Avenue.
He began competing at Lancaster Speedway in 1969, driving his have cars – modifieds in the early 1970s, late product inventory cars and trucks at Holland Speedway in the mid 1970s and modifieds yet again at Lancaster until eventually 1983.
He also competed for several years in the Race of Champions at Pocono Raceway.
Mr. Edwards operated a employed car or truck dealership for a number of several years at Transit Street and Wehrle Push, worked for car auction providers and sold automobiles privately until finally his demise.
He also was a bus driver for Provider Mentor, transporting handicapped kids.
“He was hard,” his wife, the former Debbie Site, stated, “but they just melted his heart.”
A Harley-Davidson motorbike enthusiast, he ongoing riding into his 80s. He and his spouse consistently attended Bicycle 7 days in Daytona, Fla., and experienced a time share residence there.
They also traveled extensively on cruises and visited China, Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii.
He savored gambling and on a regular basis frequented casinos locally and in Las Vegas.
In addition to his wife, survivors include things like a few daughters, April Klipp, Jennifer Stringfellow and Connie Machiewicz 5 sons, Robert, Philip, Brian, Andrew and John two sisters, Susan Sekeret and Peggy Makie a brother, Paul 13 grandchildren and five wonderful-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday in John E. Roberts Funeral Residence, 280 Grover Cleveland Freeway, Amherst.