Ringling –Funeral Services for Mr. Harold Robert Charles, Sr. is scheduled for 10:00 AM Friday, March 10, 2017 at the Church of Jesus Christ Gospel Tabernacle of Ringling with LaFon Glenn Jimmy Morris officiating. Interment will follow to Ringling Memorial Cemetery. Services are under the care and direction of Alexander Funeral Home in Ringling.

Harold was born February 21, 1923 to the late Mr. Lawrence Henley Charles and Mrs. Rosa Rena (Dornbush) Charles in Fremont, MI. He departed from this life on March 8, 2017 at Lone Grove.

Harold was born as 1 of 6 boys, and 6 girls, being next to the youngest. They were raised on a farm about 5 miles outside Fremont, MI. Fremont was the original home of Gerber Baby Foods. Harold was drafted into the United States Army at Fort Custar, MI during WWII. He soon became part of the Calvary Division and trained horses and mules for a large part of his military service. He also was trained as a Ferrier horseshoeing a lot of horses for officers and their family members. After his honorable service he was discharged from the Army in 1945, and enjoyed sharing stories about how horses were used during WWII.

Harold married the former Ms. Pauline Lance July 3, 1942 in Oklahoma. They had only known each other for 3 weeks. Residing primarily in Ringling, Harold worked professionally as a barber for 45 years also as a cattle rancher and started a trucking company at the Wilson Y “H & S’ Trucking with his son Sonny. Harold loved his cattle, working in the yard and spending time with his kids.

Preceding him in death are his parents; Wife Pauline; daughter, Judy; Son, Harold, Jr. “Sonny”; 5 brothers and 6 sisters; and two stepdaughters, Suzy and Shirley.

Harold is survived by his daughters, Deanna Kennedy of Lone Grove, Janice Strader and husband Wayne of Ardmore and Shelia Harbert and husband Buck of Moriarty, NM; step son, Roy Bartling and wife Monica of Waurika; 15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 27 great great grandchildren; numerous other family and friends

Casket bearers will be Charles Strader, Buck Harbert, Curtis Condit, Dewayne McCarty, Dale Riley and Jerry Alvord.
Honorary bearers will be Jarvis Hunt, John Smith, Charlie Burke and Wayne Strader.

A family visitation is scheduled for Thursday evening from 6-8 PM at Alexander Funeral Home in Ringling. Online condolences may be made to www.alexanderfuneralhome.org.

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