Charlie Ray Cauthen, 98, passed away on July 29, 2020, after a long and well-lived life. He was born in Crenshaw County September 24, 1921, to Mack and Pearl Cauthen and was one of 11 siblings. In 1937 at the age of 16, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp and traveled to Pacific Northwest where he worked with a timber crew as a cook receiving $25.00 a week, $10.00 of which he sent home to his mother.
In 1941 at the outbreak of WWII, Charlie enlisted with the United States Army as a corporal. He served time in Morocco, France and Italy as a port supply clerk, cook and the personal attaché to intelligence officers in what was the beginning of the CIA.
Upon returning home after the war, Charlie received a job with the Bell Phone company where he worked as an underground lineman for the next 46 years. In 1947 he married Mary Elizabeth McIntosh who was his loving and devoted wife of 44 years. They raised four sons in Montgomery before buying a cattle farm in Bethlehem Community in south Montgomery County where he lived the remainder of his life. After the passing of Mary in 1991, Charlie married Roberta Hickman Cauthen.
Charlie was a kind soul who loved people and all social occasions. He enjoyed working on his farm and in his garden, going to church and dropping in to visit people. He was a longtime and active member of the Bell Telephone Company Pioneers, the Liberty Church of Christ and was a welcomed frequent customer of Sam’s Club.
In addition to his wife Mary, Charlie was proceeded in death by his parents and by his brothers Bud, Bygie, Melvin and Edward Cauthen and sisters Mamie Hall Hudson, Faye Geck, Lois Russell Thompson, Ruby Pittman, and Eunice Gafford. He is survived by his wife, Roberta, of Greenville, one sister Earline Strickland of Lapine and his four sons, Charles (Annette), Joe (Cindy), Steve (Margaret) Cauthen all of Montgomery and Tom (Laura) Cauthen of Auburn. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Charlie (Jane) Cauthen of Melbourne, FL; Joey (Carrie) Cauthen of Montgomery; Laura (Jay) Pritchard of Atlanta; Kimberly Wolfe of Nashville; and Thomas Cauthen & Mary Ella Cauthen of Auburn and 10 great grandchildren – Liz, Bella, Lauren, Harry, Jack, Georgia, Mack, Emma, James and Rosie, as well as numerous special nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff and administration of A Country Place Assisted Living in Greenville and Luverne Health and Rehabilitation Center, where Charlie spent his last year, and the members of the Liberty Church of Christ for their care and friendship. A celebration of his life will be held Friday, Aug 7 at the Liberty Church of Christ in Hope Hull 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Montgomery and Rainbow Omega.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WhiteChapel-GreenwoodFH.com for the CAUTHEN family.
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