Obituary for Charles E "Charlie" Oakes
Center of Athens.
Charles was born March 26, 1930 in Knoxville, TN to the late Elmer B. and Hula Barr Oakes.
He was a very active member of Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Athens where he served as Greeter for many years and was a member of the Friendship Sunday school class.
He was a graduate of Madisonville High School and married Eva Grace Thomas on August 25, 1949. He farmed for 5 years before joining the U.S. Air Force on October 25, 1954. Charles completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and remained there 11 months and was assigned to Nana Air Force base in Okinawa. Later assignments included Orlando, FL, Spangdahlem, Germany, Seymour Johnson, NC, Ubon, Thailand, and K.I. Sawyer, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He and Eva were able to live most of his military service together. Living with a German family for almost 3 years in Speicher, Germany. Charles ended his 20 years military service at Robin Air Force Base in Georgia in 1974 and moved to Athens, TN. He then attended Cleveland State Community College and graduated there while working at Athens Products. He transferred to Watts Bar Nuclear Plant and worked 8 years as an Engineer Aide and Quality Control Electrical Inspector. He retired from TVA August 1988. He played lead guitar with country bands at certain airbases in the states and overseas. He has been a long time member of McMinn Senior Center where he played guitar. He was an active gardener and enjoyed doing oil painting that he shared with family and friends. He enjoyed traveling and traveled in all states except Alaska.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Eva Thomas Oakes of Athens; two nieces, Sondra (Robert) Vaughn of Germantown,NC and Kristin (Rodney) Rouse of Madison, NC. and nephew, Steve (Paula) King of High Point, NC
A funeral service will be conducted, 7:00 pm, Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at Allen Memorial United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve King, Dr. Charles Ensminger and Rev. Charla Sherbokoff officiating. The committal service will be 1:00 pm, Wednesday, July 10th at McMinn Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm Tuesday, at the church prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be Tim Sharp, Tanner Collins, Chris Meadows, Michael Bryant, Jared Wright, and Charles Littleton.
The family suggests memorials be made to Allen Memorial United Methodist Church, 800 Decatur Pike, Athens, TN 37303; or a charity of your choice.
Charles was born March 26, 1930 in Knoxville, TN to the late Elmer B. and Hula Barr Oakes.
He was a very active member of Allen Memorial United Methodist Church in Athens where he served as Greeter for many years and was a member of the Friendship Sunday school class.
He was a graduate of Madisonville High School and married Eva Grace Thomas on August 25, 1949. He farmed for 5 years before joining the U.S. Air Force on October 25, 1954. Charles completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and remained there 11 months and was assigned to Nana Air Force base in Okinawa. Later assignments included Orlando, FL, Spangdahlem, Germany, Seymour Johnson, NC, Ubon, Thailand, and K.I. Sawyer, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He and Eva were able to live most of his military service together. Living with a German family for almost 3 years in Speicher, Germany. Charles ended his 20 years military service at Robin Air Force Base in Georgia in 1974 and moved to Athens, TN. He then attended Cleveland State Community College and graduated there while working at Athens Products. He transferred to Watts Bar Nuclear Plant and worked 8 years as an Engineer Aide and Quality Control Electrical Inspector. He retired from TVA August 1988. He played lead guitar with country bands at certain airbases in the states and overseas. He has been a long time member of McMinn Senior Center where he played guitar. He was an active gardener and enjoyed doing oil painting that he shared with family and friends. He enjoyed traveling and traveled in all states except Alaska.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Eva Thomas Oakes of Athens; two nieces, Sondra (Robert) Vaughn of Germantown,NC and Kristin (Rodney) Rouse of Madison, NC. and nephew, Steve (Paula) King of High Point, NC
A funeral service will be conducted, 7:00 pm, Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at Allen Memorial United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve King, Dr. Charles Ensminger and Rev. Charla Sherbokoff officiating. The committal service will be 1:00 pm, Wednesday, July 10th at McMinn Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm Tuesday, at the church prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be Tim Sharp, Tanner Collins, Chris Meadows, Michael Bryant, Jared Wright, and Charles Littleton.
The family suggests memorials be made to Allen Memorial United Methodist Church, 800 Decatur Pike, Athens, TN 37303; or a charity of your choice.