Visitation will be held Thursday, October 15, 2020, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McEwen Funeral Service at Sharon Memorial Park, 5716 Monroe Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28212. Funeral service will be held Friday, October 16, 2020 at 2 p.m., at the McEwen Chapel.
Mr. Deal is survived by his wife Lynda Bagby Deal, also of Tallahassee, FL, Michael Scott Deal (eldest son), (wife Claire Deal), of Buffalo, NY, and Christopher Jonathan Deal (youngest son), (wife Cheryl Reidy Deal), of Matthews, N.C. He has three grandchildren, Jackson Ray Deal, of Buffalo, NY, Ryenne Mae Deal, of Buffalo, NY, and Sarah Marie Thrasher, of Matthews, N.C., all of whom he loved dearly. His cherished siblings are Vivian Deal Gresham, (husband David Allen Gresham), of Rochester Hills, MI, David Andrew Deal, of Charlotte, N.C., and Phillip Michael Deal, (wife Diana Day Deal), of Charlotte, N.C. Near and dear, to his heart, were also numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mr. Deal was preceded in death, by his father, Samuel Andrew Deal, of Midland, N.C. and his mother Willie Mae Horton, of Midland/Charlotte, N.C., and his wife of 41 years, Amaryllis (Amy) Rosemond Hassell Deal.
Charles was born March 21, 1942, at Mercy Hospital, in Charlotte, N.C. He spent most of his growing up years, in Stallings and Indian Trail, N.C. area.
In 1948, at age 6, Charles was stricken with the polio virus. The effects of the virus left him without the use of his legs. Initially, he walked with two braces, one on each leg, and crutches. As time went on, he removed the braces and began walking with Loftstrand crutches, alone, using a swing-through gait.
Charles was a strong-willed individual. If there was something, that he wanted to do, he didn’t allow his physical challenges to stop him. He graduated high school at Indian Trail High School, in Indian Trail, N.C. He earned an Associate’s Degree from King’s College, in Charlotte, N.C. Charles had a love of radio as a young man and attended the Carolina School of Broadcasting. Determined not to allow his disability to thwart his mobility, he learned to drive a car. In driver’s education class, he, actually had the fastest reaction time, for moving his right foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal. He used his right hand to lift his leg and move it.
Charles always had a love of photography. He liked to shoot everything from prints, to slides, to 8mm movies. He even developed some of his own film.
Physical limitations didn’t keep him from doing a wide range of activities, in his life. He raised veal calves, as a young man, in Stallings, N.C., and sold them at auction. He hunted in the woods around his home, in North Carolina, as a youth. He fished with his sons at Lake Norman, in North Carolina. Charles and his family hiked, tent camped. camper camped, backpacked (with an 80lb. backpack on his back), canoed, kayaked, sailed, and motor boated, up and down the East Coast of the United States, from Key West, Florida to Montreal, Canada. He lived a full and abundant life.
At age 11, Charles accepted Jesus Christ, as his personal Savior and Lord, at New Hope Baptist Church, in Charlotte, N.C. He was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, from that time, until he entered, into the Lord’s presence, at age 78.
As a young man, he moved to Charlotte, where he married Amaryllis (Amy) Rosamond Hassell, a registered nurse, working at Mercy Hospital. They had two sons, Michael Scott Deal and Christopher Jonathan Deal.
For approximately thirty-nine years, of his adult life, he worked as the Program Media Director, for WSOC-TV, in Charlotte. Prior to that employment, he worked briefly, for the Charlotte Observer, as a proofreader.
For a number of years, in Charlotte, he and his family were members, at Ascension Lutheran Church, on Morehead Street. He served as an elder there and taught Sunday School. Also, for a time, during his employment at WSOC-TV, he served in the Gideons, where he performed jail ministry, in Charlotte.
On December 5th of 2007, his wife of 41 years, Amy Deal, passed away from complications associated with diabetes.
In 2010, he married Lynda Joan Bagby, of Tallahassee, FL. He moved to Tallahassee and lived there with her, until his death. While he lived in Tallahassee, FL, he and his wife Lynda, were members at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Charles had endless curiosity and loved to learn new things. One of his greatest passions was reading. Often times, you would find him, in his bedroom, lying on his bed, or in the living room, in an easy chair, reading a book. His favorite book to read, was the Bible. His interests included everything from Jewish culture to modern day politics and societal issues.
Charles loved continuing education. He attended German language and International Trade classes, at Central Piedmont Community College, in Charlotte, N.C. When computers made it to his job, at WSOC-TV, he mastered the software required, to run his department. When the technology was developed, he became an avid user of Google searches and Facebook.
In his later years, he took up the hobby of genealogy. He became a very skilled amateur genealogist. He loved to look up our family’s history, as well as assisting others in looking up theirs.
Charles always had a funny sense of humor. He loved to crack subtle jokes and make people laugh. He also enjoyed hearing a good joke or funny saying.
Charles’ greatest love, on this earth, was his family.
His favorite life verse from the Bible was “My grace is sufficient for thee.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
During this time of sadness and loss, I take comfort in knowing, that he is, “absent from the body and present, with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8. I rejoice in knowing, that he is alive, in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ today, and that we will all see him again!
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