After 94 years, his body said it was time to go.
Charles was born in 1921 on a farm down a dirt road in rural Rocky Point, North Carolina to Charles and Katie Keith.
He was the first of 6 children and was preceded in death by two brothers, Lynwood and Sam. He is survived by sisters Laura and Martha, and brother Billy.
He is also survived by son Steve, his husband John, daughter Kathy, her husband Mike and granddaughter Kaitlin, her husband lan, and grandson Kevin.
In the last year and a half of his life, Charles was blessed to get to know the newest member of his family, a great-grandson Charlie who was named for him.
During WWII Charles joined the Army Air Corps, which would soon become the Air Force. His interest in all things mechanical led to a career as an aircraft mechanic for 20 years that would take him around the world. While stationed in Washington, D.C. Charles met the love of his life, Willie Dean Stephens, at a dance. She waited for two years while he was stationed in Japan and the Philippines and upon his return, they were married. They were married for 58 years until Willie's death in 2006. A year later he moved to Plano, Texas to live near his daughter Kathy and her family.
Charles and his family spent most of his Air Force career in Plattsburgh, New York and Orlando, Florida where they made life-long friends. He retired from the Air Force in 1964, and for the next 20 years worked in Civil Service at McCoy Air Force Base.
Charles loved golf, taking apart and putting back together lawn mower engines, tinkering on cars, and teaching neighborhood kids to water ski. Most of all, he loved God and his church. He was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church Orlando for many years and made many friends serving as an usher for 30 years and volunteering in the church thrift shop. He was an easy-going Christian man who was well-loved and will be missed by many.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may made to: New Century Hospice, 4101 McEwen Road Suite 500, Dallas Texas 75244
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