Charles Olan Faulconer Sr.

Charles Olan Faulconer, Sr. of Monroe, Virginia died December 2, 2018 in Florida. Charles was born March 22,1926 in Monroe to his parents Charles Andrew Faulconer and Myrtle Inez Floyd Faulconer. Charles was preceded in death by his wife Louise McCord Faulconer, to whom he was married for sixty-five years, having married June 15, 1951. Together they embraced their hometown of Monroe and Amherst County, raising their sons and contributing to their community, where Charles served as postmaster at the Monroe Post Office 1951-1977. A decorated veteran of WWII, Charles was a member of Patton’s 3rd Army, 80th division, 319th Infantry Company A. He was wounded at age 18 on February 8, 1945, fighting from a forward position on the front lines in Germany, during the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive on the Western Front during the war. For his actions, Charles was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and, just two years ago, the French Legion of Honour, the highest decoration awarded in France. Maintaining his dedication to his home and family in Virginia during retirement, Charles also became determined to understand the context of his military service, and he traveled back to Europe to find the battlefield of his youth. On his first visit, he was surprised, honored, and humbled to be awarded a medal of appreciation from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Inspired by the continuing gratitude of the citizens of Luxembourg and France for the service of all Allied troops, Charles returned to Europe a few years later in 2011, with his wife, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, where he was able to pinpoint the very foxhole he fought from in Luxembourg before being wounded the next day after crossing the Our River into Wallendorf, Germany. Charles was finally able to show and tell the fullness of his story to his family, a story emblematic of the sacrifices of The Greatest Generation, in which a young man from a small train town in Virginia traveled thousands of miles to help win a world war, a story similar to that of many of his comrades in arms. Charles was active in the Battle of the Bulge Association and the 80th Division Veterans Association, attending reunions with his wife and sons. Charles grew up at a time when Monroe was a bustling village centered around a Southern Railway train yard. His first job was delivering newspapers for 25 cents a day. He later took grocery orders from Monroe residents, delivering groceries and food from the four stores and the restaurant that were in business in Monroe at the time. He began attending Monroe School when it was built in 1935, and he graduated from Madison Heights High School. Though he lived his entire life as a Monroe resident, Charles’ curiosity about the world led him to travel to 49 states in the United States (except Hawaii), most often traveling by RV with family. He was a member of the Blue Ridge Winnies camping club for 23 years and part of the Holiday Travel community in Leesburg, Florida. He often traveled with his children and his grandchildren. With family, he visited Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Ireland, England, and Scotland. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Monroe, where he was baptized as a child. The landmarks and stories of Monroe lived in his memory. He had gifts with animals, growing vegetables, and mechanical things, and he also had a creative side, taking pictures, and preserving historic photos. He encouraged both his children and grandchildren to learn to play music, enjoy the outdoors, travel, and work hard. Charles is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law and their families: Charles Faulconer, Jr. and Susan Faulconer of McCormick, SC; Robert “Rick” Faulconer and Jeanne Faulconer of Chesterfield, VA; and Brian Faulconer and Mary Faulconer of Holly Springs, NC. His grandchildren are Laura Faulconer Leslie, Emily Faulconer Purcell, Kevin McCord Faulconer, Patrick Faulconer, Nick Faulconer, Cameron Faulconer, and Jake Faulconer. His great-grandchildren are Page Jeromy Pell, Isla Louise Leslie, Ivy Monroe Leslie, and Samantha Purcell. He is also survived by his brother, Paul Faulconer and wife Audrey Faulconer of Madison Heights; he was predeceased by his siblings Lucy Leavitt Faulconer of Lane, Oregon; Faye Faulconer Clark Ford of South Boston; and Hayes Faulconer of Monroe. A graveside service will be conducted 1:00 p.m., Friday, December 7, 2018, at Fort Hill Memorial Park with the Rev. Steve Tyree officiating. Military Honors will be presented by the American Legion Post 36 from Altavista and Post 232 from Gretna. The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m., Thursday, December 6, 2018, at Whitten Monelison Chapel. Charles Faulconer was a true American Hero and a member of our Greatest Generation. He will be remembered for his energy, integrity, and indomitable spirit, embodied in the slogan of the 80th Infantry: “Only Moves Forward.” To honor his memory and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to 80th Division Veterans Association, 5101 Hurop Road, Sandston, VA 23150.