Charles Harrell

Captain (Retired) Charles Loftin Harrell, 86, of Fayetteville, NC passed away on May 11, 2025. He was born August 8, 1938 in Durham, NC to the late Robert Forest Harrell and Margaret Julia Leonard Harrell; and as well was preceded in death by his son Forrest Mark Harrell and brother David Harrell.

Charles is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sylvia Kay Williams Harrell; daughter Julia Kay Harrell Luedtke and husband Frank of Linden, NC; two grandchildren Morgan Raeburn Luedtke Wells and Dillon Charles Luedtke both of Fayetteville, NC; great-granddaughter Kadence April Wells of Fayetteville, NC; sister Vera Weiss and husband Frank of Wilmington, NC; sisters-in-law Mary Harrell of Matthews, NC; Mildred Spivey of Wilmington, NC; Anita Julian of Howard, KS; and a brother-in-law Larry Criminger of Little River, SC. He will be remembered with love by many nieces and nephews.

CPT Harrell served in the military for 26 years, starting with the 1/120th Infantry in Wilmington, NC as a Mortarman. In 1956 he transitioned to the Regular Army and, after a short time with the 101st Divarty as a survey specialist, he was assigned to 77th Special Forces Group where he became an Engineer and Demolitions Sergeant. Over his career he served with the 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Tolz, Germany; 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, NC and retired as Chief of Demolitions Branch from the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He had a distinguished career that included earning the Leadership Award as a Specialist 5 while attending the 7th Army NCO Academy in 1960. His performance led to the Academy dedicating a Leadership conference room in his name in 2010. During his service he completed three combat tours in Vietnam, earning three Bronze Stars, one with V device for Valor in combat. His time and efforts significantly enhanced the success of the Special Forces capabilities worldwide.

After retirement he continued his service to the country for 11 years, working for the Department of Defense at the Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity in Hertford, NC; finally retiring in 1988.

Charles was 32 Degree Master Mason with Ft. Bragg Lodge #667 and a 50 year member of the Cumberland County Shrine Club.

Throughout his career and retirement, Charles enjoyed teaching, coaching and mentoring anyone he could help. He was always someone who could take challenging situations for family and friends and make them easy to overcome. In later life he enjoyed fishing, woodworking, gardening, and most of all time spent with his grandchildren. Mostly he tried to keep up with the four generations in a house at one time!

A graveside service will be held at 11am on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Williams Family Cemetery, 200 Williams Road, Wilmington, NC. Following the burial, all are invited to Coble Funeral Home at 1155 Shipyard Boulevard for a light repast and visitation with the family before returning home.

Gifts in his memory may be made to:

The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford

600 College Street

Oxford, North Carolina 27565-2758