Charles Edgar “Ed” Byars, of Texico, was “swallowed up by life” at 10:15 a.m. on October 29, 2026, and is now “absent from the body” but “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:1-10). Ed was born June 5, 1941, to Elza and Edith (Burge) Byars.
He attended Kell Grade School and Salem High School. While still in high school, he started working at Stanford Engineering in Salem – later purchased by MAN Roland. He worked there from 1959 to 2007. While not having a college degree in engineering, he worked in many facets of the mechanical and electrical engineering of the machines Stanford built and retired as vice president of engineering.
Ed was drafted into the Army and was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he served in the Post Engineers from April 1964 to January 1966. He was proud that he had served his country and in his later years often wore his “Army” hat when in public. His hat got him many expressions of “Thank you for your service.” After serving in the Army, he married Janet Sue Dalby on October 7, 1966. They had one son, Mark. Janet preceded him in death in December 2019. Ed faithfully attended and served the Lord at Panther Fork Baptist Church. It was there, at a revival service when he was eleven years old, that he trusted in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross to pay for his sins. Over the years, he served as song leader, Sunday school teacher, deacon, trustee for the Panther Fork Cemetery, and in other ways as well. Family and local history were of great interest to him. About a week before his death, he finished a project about his great-grandfather J.F. Byars’ blacksmith business. A few years ago, he typed up “Rural Telephone: 1903-1958” about the first line in rural Kell. He was a contributor to “Voices,” a history about Divide, IL, compiled by Elizabeth Anne Parker Wilson. He was proud to be a Son of the American Revolution and was a key part of other family members becoming involved in the SAR and DAR.
He is survived by his son, Mark and wife Becky; grandson Tyler; granddaughters Brooklyn (Vu) Van, Savannah (Garen) Wenal, Mariah (Alpha) Morton; Bailey (Olin) Walsh; great-grandchildren: Ashton Morton, Lainey Van, Liam Walsh, and baby boy Morton due in January; sisters-in-law: Sheila Byars, Judy Williams, and Joyce Richardson; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; sister, Betty Austin, and her husband, Lavern; Brother, Henry Byars; and brothers-in-law, Norman Williams and Ken Richardson.
Funeral services for Mr. Byars will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Panther Fork Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Panther Fork Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Panther Fork Baptist Church on Sunday, November 1, from Noon until the hour of service. Memorial gifts may be made to Panther Fork Baptist Church or the Panther Fork Cemetery Fund and will be accepted at the service or by mail to the Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, Illinois 62830. Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneral.com, or on the Osborn Funeral Home Facebook page.
