Charles Henry Stiles

Charles Henry Stiles Jr., ‘Charlie’ age 87 of Knoxville, TN passed away peacefully in his sleep and went to be with his maker and savior on June 11, 2021, he was born on September 7, 1933, in Etowah, TN to Charles Henry Stiles Sr. and Ruth Ann Brown-Stiles. Charlie lived an idyllic childhood surrounded by many cousins and friends including living one summer during the late 1940’s in a family campsite with his grandparents Arthur and Grace Brown on the shores of Watts Bar lake in Ten Mile, TN while their retirement home was being built. He had a lifelong love of fishing and the great outdoors and never passed on an opportunity to go trout fishing in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park or local waters where good fishing could be found. Charlie was a popular student graduating from Harriman High School, Harriman, TN where he participated in many school activities including the high school marching band and enjoyed a wide circle of friends. During his senior year he met the love of his life, Barbara Joan West, ‘Barb’ who had transferred from Oak Ridge high school her senior year. Their per chance meeting would become a 67-year love story and marriage. After completing high school, Charlie attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville, studying pre-dentistry and later joined the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. Upon Barb's college graduation, the high school sweethearts and best friends married on August 3, 1953, traveling on together with the promise of love and hope for the future to Beaufort, SC, Camp Lejeune, NC and Camp Pendleton, CA before Charlie deployed with the 2nd battalion,7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force (FMF), landing at Inchon for what would become a 14-month combat tour on the newly established ‘Korean 38th parallel.’  Upon his return they lived in Oceanside, CA and for the next year he and Barb enjoyed the Southern California lifestyle. Having achieved the rank of Sergeant, USMC and becoming a member of the Marine Corps Band, he shared many humorous stories of sailors and marines and their exploits during his time assigned to shore patrol in San Diego and Los Angeles and decided the West was a bit ‘too wild’ before he and Barb returned to Tennessee to start their family. Little did he know his experience and security training gained in the Marine Corps would contribute greatly to his civilian career.

A humble man, Charlie was the family's rock and source of strength always setting an example of honor, courage, and steadfastness inspiring his children Rusty and Beth to pursue excellence, work hard and demonstrate kindness and love to family and friends and those unable to help themselves. Charlie was a dedicated member of each community he lived as he and Barb began a new life outside of the Marine Corps with the Southern Railway where he served as a Detective with the former Southern Railway Police Department retiring after 33 years’ service as a Captain. He volunteered and served as a member of each community church and most recently the Bookwalter United Methodist church in Knoxville including a missionary trip to St. Kitts Island in the Caribbean working to restore a church for worship services of which he greatly enjoyed. In his later years he and Barb enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and especially to Hawaii and on one occasion to Ireland. A gourmet chef in his spare time, he enjoyed preparing meals for his family, classical, country western and southern blues music, and collected an extensive private library on the civil war becoming a self-taught expert on most major battles fought and the generals who fought them. Charlie enjoyed meeting and talking to new people everywhere and especially the love and laughter associated with all family and social gatherings. He took special joy in being a devoted grandfather simply known as ‘Poppi” to his grandchildren who were the apple of his eye, Meagan and Taylor. Charlie’s life was well lived and devoted to God, family and his country.

Preceding him in death were his parents his beloved wife of 67 years, Barb. He is survived by his son, Charles W. 'Rusty' Stiles CAPT, USN (RET) and daughter-in-law, Linda Diane Stiles of Chesapeake VA; daughter, Bethany Ann Stiles Stumpfig and son-in-law, Jim Stumpfig of Young-Harris, GA; granddaughter, Meagan McKinsey Stiles of Chesapeake, VA; grandson, Taylor Christiansen Stiles of Knoxville, TN; sister, Eva Grace Stiles – Lad  and brother-in-law, Earl Ladd of Dallas, TX and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Charlie's memorial service and burial will be conducted at the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, John Sevier Highway, Knoxville, TN, on June 22, 2021 at 12:30 pm in the Chapel. Charlie’s commitment service will be livestreamed and recorded by Gentry Griffey -Facebook.

 The family gives a big ‘shout out’ to all the staff at Ben Atchley Tennessee State Veterans Home (TSVH) Knoxville, TN who provided loving care for him during his final days and especially to the nursing staff on ‘B wing’ and TSVH’s awesome nursing director Martha ‘Marti’ Lindsey, RN. Words cannot truly express the Stiles family’s gratitude, thanks and love. Charlie’s commitment service will be livestreamed and recorded by Gentry Griffey -Facebook.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mobile Meals, Knoxville a volunteer organization dedicated to providing meals to Knoxville's elderly. They may be contacted at MobileMealsVols@knoxseniors.org or call 865-524-2786.

Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Stiles family and invites you to view and sign the online registry at www.gentrygriffey.com.

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