Chris Edwards

Chris Edwards passed away on February 22nd, 2017. He was 76 years old. If Chris could have scripted his own passing, he wouldn't have written it much differently. After breakfast with his family and friends he went for a bike ride with one of his five boys. Chris leaves behind his wife of 46 years, Ivy, five boys, Sebastian, Ashley, Benjamin, Jeremy and Rhys, two brothers, Vaughan and John, and 10 grandchildren. Chris was a man of incredible energy, infectious charisma and an intellectual curiosity that knew no bounds. He shared it with all who were lucky enough to fall into his orbit. Chris was immune to boredom. Chris was born in Swansea, Wales on February 10th, 1941. In his first week of life he sheltered under the bed in the Mount Pleasant hospital with his mother Anne Edwards and his father Phillip Edwards during the three day German blitz of Swansea. As a boy, Chris was not drawn to the usual sports. He fell in love with rock climbing, kayaking and cycling. His life long love of cycling he would share with many of his boys. He was a musician and an artist. When it came time to leave Swansea for school, Chris earned a place at the prestigious Royal College of Art in London. Upon graduation he worked at a design firm in Farnham called Gillespies and married his wife, Ivy, in Swansea. When a opportunity in America presented itself, Chris, Ivy and their two young sons, Sebastian and Ashley, boarded a plane destined for LAX and a job in Montecito at Forms and Surfaces. Chris was with Forms and Surfaces for 23 years, eventually becoming President of the company. After many happy years in Santa Barbara and Goleta and three more boys - Benjamin, Jeremy, Rhys - Chris and Ivy moved with their youngest son Rhys to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where Chris began working with Armstrong Worldwide in new business development until his retirement to Santa Barbara in 2006. During Chris's career he traveled extensively - Japan, Manila, South America, and Europe - but perhaps his favorite assignment was in Paris with Armstrong. Chris and Ivy's love of travel continued after his retirement. They were constantly on the go. They went home to Wales frequently, traveled to Asia and all over Europe. Retirement for Chris also included a thriving Architectural Illustration business, his energy and creativity needing an outlet even in retirement. In 2013 Chris and Ivy moved to Ojai to be closer to Ashley and Ben and their families. In the weeks before Chris's passing he and Ivy spent time with family and friends in Wales. Chris believed the only life worth living was a shared one, and he shared his energy, charisma and creativity with a wife and family he was devoted to. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation in his name to the Make a Wish Foundation of Hawaii, where his son Jeremy is on the board; http://hawaii.wish.org A memorial to Chris's incredible life will be held at Upper Manning Park in Montecito at 3:00pm on March 2nd, where he met his family for lunch many, many times over the years. All who knew Chris or the family are welcome