Charles Walpole McDonald

Charles Walpole McDonald, known to family and friends as “Charlie”, “Dr Chas” or “The Chasbo” was born March 20,1948 in Anderson, Indiana. He died September 8, 2026 at age 78 at St. Francis Hospital Emergency Room in Bartlett, TN after a long illness. He was at Applingwood Post Acute for rehab for approximately 3 weeks after a 5 week stay in the hospital at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Cause of death was stated per the St. Francis ER MD as “his heart just stopped.” Charles’ latest current city of residence was Lakeland, TN.

In his early years, Charlie and his family moved from Anderson Indiana to Washington DC, then to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, then back to Washington, DC, then to Bristol, TN. He then moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1960, and graduated from White Station High School in 1967. Charlie was diagnosed with an “overactive thyroid” at age 16 and had to undergo thyroid surgery. This action set his graduation back one year. He knew and graduated with now actress Kathy Bates, who was also in his class.

Charlie attended Southwestern at Memphis and graduated in 1971 with a BFA degree. His major was English Literature. He taught 9th grade English at Humes Jr. High School for one year, where he was known to visit the students’ homes and meet with their parents after school in an attempt to help the students if they were having trouble with their classes. Elvis Presley also attended Humes, but Charlie did not have him in any of his classes.

Charlie then travelled to Athens, Georgia, where he attended the University of Georgia. He received an MFA degree and taught English Literature to undergraduate students. Charlie always loved to read and continued his education at the University of Georgia where he received his PhD in English Literature. His PhD dissertation was on Wilfred Owen, an English poet and soldier who was one of the leading poets in the First World War. Wilfred’s most famous poem was “ Dulce et Decorum Est” which translates to “It is sweet and proper to die for one’s country.” Charlie was so interested in Wilfred’s life (who died at age 25 in war), that he then travelled to England and met with Leslie Gunston, Wilfred’s cousin, who was also a famous poet, artist and architect. Charlie had a professional photographer film a documentary with his meeting there with Leslie Gunston. Charlie and Leslie Gunston became good friends and wrote to each other periodically.

Charlie wrote a book on Wilfred Owen with an interpretation of his poetry after visiting Gunston. A publisher approached Charlie regarding publishing the rather lengthy book (approximately 2000 pages). After careful consideration, Charlie decided against it. Charlie and Mark Twain had similar philosophies on writing. As Mark Twain stated, it was much easier to write 300 pages than it was to get it down to 30 pages.

Charlie also dabbled in writing his own poetry, but the poems were never published.

He also corresponded with the journalist, William L. Shirer, about Nazi Germany. Shirer is the author of “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”. He was under house arrest in Berlin until the end of the war. Shirer had come to know Hitler’s General Staff very well. It was they that cooperated with Shirer after the war to tell what really happened. Shirer also met Hitler during his forced stay in Berlin. (Charlie never met Hitler).

Charlie moved back to Memphis eventually where he decided to attend Law School. He graduated from Memphis State University with a J.D. degree. He was licensed in both TN and MS. He practiced law until a few years ago, when he became ill. He did a variety of cases including personal injury, divorces, estates, and wills.

Charlie had an immense love for reading and had an intense interest in all kinds of history, mainly concentrating on WWI, WWII, and especially the Civil War. He was an expert on the Civil War and was asked to host a call-in radio show years ago and answer questions that anyone had about the Civil War. The show was supposed to last 1 hour, but it continued to 3 hours because there was so much interest from callers. Charlie answered every single caller’s questions except for two callers who wanted to know where their “grandpappy was buried.”

History and literature were not his only loves. Charlie was very interested in politics and had a deep concern for our country and the direction it was heading. He wanted to make changes to improve the status quo and so he decided to run for office- twice. First, he ran for State Representative. He did not win, but learned much from the experience. He then ran for Judge of the Eighth District, but unfortunately was squeezed out by a narrow margin.

Charlie also had a love for movies and cinema. He got a taste for acting when he played Judge Omar Gaffney in the White Station High School production of “Harvey.” Omar Gaffney was an old family friend and judge in the play. As most close friends and family know, Charlie had a “google mind” and could recall actors’ names, movie titles and their stories faster than a speeding computer.

Charlie’s taste for acting and films increased after that. Charlie loved watching Westerns. In his twenties, he wrote, directed, acted in and produced the film entitled “Three Under Par” which was a comedy based on his favorite movie, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Of course, he got all of his friends and family to act in it, obtained permission and use of a golf course for free to film it and had a wonderful time. He had a showing of the movie where all cast members viewed it and of course, loved it. As of this time, the film has not made it to the big screen, but who knows?

Charlie was an excellent public speaker and never had any fear of public speaking. He took after his father in this and was a talented raconteur who could at an instant tell interesting stories and anecdotes. Charlie’s memory was beyond belief. When he was younger, he could memorize all kinds of stories, but was especially interested in ghost stories. He was an Eagle Scout, and when he would go on camping trips, the parents who were driving the kids back would fight over taking Charlie and his brother Tom home because Charlie would always tell ghost stories the whole way home. The parents wanted to hear the stories and hear how they ended. Charlie and Tom were always the last to be dropped off.

His love of public speaking continued in college. At the University of Georgia one Friday night, Charlie was strolling through the campus on his way home. He saw a light in a doorway that had a sign up for a speaking contest and the first prize was fifty silver dollars. Charlie immediately went in, signed up with no preparation and gave a rousing speech on the Civil War. He walked away with first prize. This was his first experience with the Demosthenians’ Literary Society (a debate society at the University of Georgia).

Charlie ran track in high school -cross country, and continued running in college and through much of his life. He also loved to swim and did so as much as possible. It was good that Charlie liked to exercise, and for all who knew him, knew he had a tremendous appetite and could eat anyone “under the table.”

Charlie was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and attended Bellevue Baptist Church on occasion. He read the Bible frequently and had an incredible knowledge and belief of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. He had remarked that when he felt nervous or overwhelmed, he imagined Jesus sitting right there beside him holding is hand.

Charlie leaves his brother, Thomas G. McDonald, his sister, Alice C. McDonald as sole surviving family members. He also leaves Joan McDonald, Thomas’ wife. He is pre-deceased by his mother: Alice M. McDonald, his father: Charles S. McDonald, his cousins: Gregory and Albert Fisher, his aunts and uncles: Albert and Evelyn Fisher, Bob and Jean Richards, Margaret McDonald, Mary C. McGrillies, and grandparents on each side: Charles Walpole and Margaret Seavey McDonald, and Thomas and Mary McGrillies.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 beginning at 9 am for visitation, 10 am for services, and 11am for reception for all guests. The location is Family Funeral Care, 4925 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN, 38122. The interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery for family only.

Flowers are very much appreciated, but in lieu of flowers, if guests prefer a memorial contribution: The Amyloidosis Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, The Parkinson’s Foundation, The Hydrocephalus Association, the National Hydrocephalus Foundation and St. Jude’s Research Hospital would be appreciated.