Bill was the only child of Persis Amelia Wells and Dr. William M. Edwards, Sr., who were both born in Mauston, Wisconsin. Bill was born in Mason, Lyon County, Nevada, where his parents had moved shortly after marrying at Mauston in 1913. His father was a doctor for the railway and mines at Mason Hospital (now gone). A brother (unnamed) died in infancy. Bill went to Mason and Yerington grade schools. The family moved to Portola, California in 1932 where Bill's father was a physician for the railroad. Bill graduated from Plumas County High School in 1935. He went to Leland Stanford University, receiving a BA in biology in June, 1939, then graduating Stanford Medical School in January, 1944. He immediately shipped out as naval medical officer on the USS Overton APD 23 in the Pacific Theater. He was awarded 9 Battle stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with 2 battle stars and participated in D-Days at Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima & Okinawa. After the war, he married Myrtle L. James of Fresno, California, daughter of Nellie Rose (Simmons) and Edwin James. They settled in San Rafael, California, where Bill and his father shared a medical practice at 1010 B. Street for many years. Bill and Myrtle had 3 children. After separating in 1962 and divorcing in 1964, Bill married Jean Taffe of San Rafael. They moved to Smith Valley, Nevada. They divorced and Bill became the Nevada State Health Officer. In 1971 he married Joan Foster, a native of Sparks, Nevada. He earned a Master's in Public Health from University of Hawaii in about 1973. He established the Board of Oriental Medicine for the state, and retired from Public Health in 1980. He remained active in the Naval Reserve and retired as Captain in the Medical Corps. He was 85 years old (findagrave.com)