William Stanley Edens, 72, of Southampton, NJ, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at home surrounded by his family. Stan was born in Winchester, VA, and raised in Clarke County, VA where he often reminisced about growing up on the family farm. He was a graduate of Clarke County High School, Class of 1969.

Stan was a U.S. Army Veteran serving during the Vietnam War and retired after 21 years of combined service on active duty and in the Army reserves. A resident of Southampton, NJ most of his adult life, he graduated from Rutgers University in Camden, NJ, with two bachelor’s degrees in accounting and business, and a master’s degree in public policy. Post-graduation, Stan worked at Rutgers University as the Associate Registrar and the Campus Director of Veterans Affairs for 23 years. After his retirement at Rutgers, Stan was an Operations Specialist with the Army, working at Ft. Dix, NJ until his final retirement.

His upbringing and demeanor led him to understand the value of hard work and helping others. Stan enjoyed many hobbies including researching and purchasing valuable and interesting antique items. He was a proud supporter of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and enjoyed the outdoors and exploring the Pinelands. He loved spending time watching his children and then his grandchildren at their soccer games. He was also extremely quick-witted, never missing an opportunity to crack a joke, usually a “Dad-joke”. Stan enjoyed playing solitaire while listening to his massive library of music, particularly classic rock. He also adored his cats, especially Smokey. Stan relished any opportunity to sit outside on a clear and sunny day and watch the planes fly overhead, and without fail would always point to one and comment, “Somebody’s going somewhere.”

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Rebecca (nee Hardesty) Edens; his children, Cassandra Brasile, Kathryn McChord (Alexander), Jared Edens and Kyle Edens; five siblings, Bernice Elliott, Ruby Orndoff, Bruce Edens, Patricia Edens and Thomas Edens; three grandchildren, Sophia Brasile, Isabella Brasile and Landon McChord; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father Joseph Edens, his mother, Louise (nee Stanley) Edens, his brother Howard Edens, and his sisters Bobbie Norten, Jean Montonera, and Elizabeth Racer.

Funeral services will be held at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel in Winchester Virginia on Friday, December 22, 2023, at 1:00 PM. There will be a Viewing/Visitation on Thursday, December 21, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Entombment will be in Mt. Hebron Cemetery Mausoleum, Winchester, VA with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Stan’s memory to the Pinelands Preservation Alliance at www.pinelandsalliance.org

Local arrangements in New Jersey are under the care and direction of the Mathis Funeral Home, Medford, NJ.

Funeral and entombment arrangements in Virginia are under the care and direction of Omps Funeral Home in Winchester, VA.