Charles W. Sledge

1926 ~
 2023

OBITUARY

Charles W. Sledge was 96 years old when he passed away peacefully at his home in Kingwood, Texas on January 21, 2023. He was surrounded by his family who loved and cherished him dearly. They were beyond blessed to have had him as the patriarch of the Sledge family. He was a man of great faith, loyal, honest and true.

Charlie was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma on May 7, 1926, to Bud and Ethel Sledge. He had two older sisters, Nita Day and Virginia Sledge, and two younger sisters, Mary Sledge and Bobbie Sledge.

He was attending Plainview High School in 1944 when he was drafted into the Army to serve in World War II. He was in the 180th Infantry as a Combat Rifleman and fought his way through France, Italy and Germany until Victory Day in Europe May 8th, 1945, and was honorably discharged in June 1946.  After the war he returned home to attend Plainview High School to complete his education.  He loved basketball and played both for the high school and league teams after graduation.  He met the love of his life, Virginia Lee McReynolds (her nickname was Billie), now 92 years old, at one of his league basketball games in Seminole, Texas on a blind date, since that day they have been together 72 years.  They recently celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary on November 1, 2022.

He enjoyed a lifetime career in the oil and gas business.  He started at age 22 as a roustabout for Amerada Oil Company in Oklahoma.  He and Billie were transferred to North Dakota in 1952, two weeks after their wedding and lived 13 years in a company camp outside Tioga.  Sandy and Chuck were born in North Dakota during that time.  Charlie was transferred to Longview, Texas in 1965.  He worked as a Purchasing Agent for various companies and spent time in Lafayette, Louisiana, Wichita, Kansas, Houston, Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas and Midland, Texas. He continued working until he was 77 years young in Houston, Texas for Cockrell Oil Company.

He loved keeping a beautiful yard, repairing things that were broken and or need of repair, loved visiting with his neighbors and friends. He never met a stranger. He was witty and always had everyone laughing when spouting his “one-liner” sayings.  He was generous and strong with his family that he loved unconditionally.  All his family and friends considered him the “best of the best” and were so blessed to have known and loved him.

He is survived by his wife Billie and two children, his daughter Sandy Whalen and her husband Tim and his son Chuck Sledge and his wife Cyndie, his five grandchildren, Nicole Parker, Angela Peters, Jacob Lahti, Wesley Sledge and Tori Sledge, his four great-grandchildren, Isaiah Denissen, Emily Peters, Darcy Trosclair, Shelby Snyder and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles W. Sledge, Sr. (Bud) and Ethel Sledge, and three sisters, Nita Day, Gin Sledge and Bobbie Sledge.

A Visitation will be on Monday, January 23, 2023, from 5 to 8 pm at the original Darst Funeral Home Chapel, 796 Russell Palmer Road, Kingwood, Texas 77339. He will then be transported to Griffin-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 1610 C SE, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402, where his funeral service will be held in the chapel on Friday, January 27, 2023, 2pm with his nephew Pastor Danny Robinson officiating.  His burial will follow and include a Military Salute in the Griffin-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery.

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Service Information

A Visitation will be on Monday, January 23, 2023, from 5 to 8 pm at the original Darst Funeral Home Chapel, 796 Russell Palmer Road, Kingwood, Texas 77339. He will then be transported to Griffin-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 1610 C SE, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402, where his funeral service will be held in the chapel on Friday, January 27, 2023, 2pm with his nephew Pastor Danny Robinson officiating.  His burial will follow and include a Military Salute in the Griffin-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery. 

To express your sympathy with a flower arrangement please contact our florist.

10 Responses

  1. I will so miss you my dear friend and neighbor. I will never (ever) forget you! I was so proud to tell others your amazing story. Now I will have to do so with a lump in my throat and a tear in my heart. ’til we meet again..

  2. Charlie you have left memories in my heart and joy in my soul. And I thank God for that May u Rest In Peace there is no doubt u are in the arms of Jesus now. You and Billie have always been an inspiration to me and showed me the right way and had to much love for me and my family and I love u both so very much. Go rest High on that mountain Charlie as we will see u soon. Love always and never forgotten. Love Allison Lee Anderson

  3. Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family! May he RIP. A long life lived and very loved by all.

  4. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Charlie and his family! May he RIP. He lived a great long life and we’re loved by all. He will be missed

  5. Mr. Chuck, what can we say, he was one of a kind. Made many laugh and left positive impressions in people. Yes, he will be missed – Revelation 21:3 & 4

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