Charles Stewart

Charles Everett Stewart, of Decatur, age 77, died Friday, July 25, 2008. He was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in November 2006.Services will be held at Central Christian Church, in Decatur, on Tuesday, July 29, at 10:00 a.m. with visitation being held at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home on Monday, July 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard.Memorials can be made to Central Christian Church, The Salvation Army, or the American Red Cross.Charles was born on February 5, 1931, in Uniontown, Kentucky. He was the son of Everett and Audrey Stewart. He married R. Joan Hendon on July 23, 1950 in Bloomington, Illinois.Charles was recently retired as CEO of Parke Warehouses. Employed there for 44 years, he especially enjoyed watching the company grow and working with the Stoddard family. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.Charles special interests include: watching and coaching sports and fishing. He truly enjoyed watching his grandchildrens sports events and his great grandsons baseball games. Charles was a passionate fan of the Taylorville Lady Tornadoes tennis, basketball, and softball teams.Charles, an avid athlete, competed on Stephen Decaturs track team and won several Big 12 honors. He received a scholarship to Millikin University. In his teens, he traveled to Nationals in Arkansas with Toms Grill Jr. Team and was on the YMCA basketball team that won State honors. Throughout his life he played on fastpitch teams - several of which took state and National awards. State Farm Chiefs (in Bloomington), Rusk and Morrow, CB&Q Local #741, and Perfect Window Cleaners are only a few of the teams on which he played. He was particularly pleased with the slow pitch team he formed, coached and played with for Central Christian Church.His loyal friends who stood by him during his almost two year illness are: Dave, Bruce, and Dick Stoddard, Janice Ferguson, Jan Curry, and St. Marys Cardio rehab staff.Charles is survived by his wife, three daughters - Linda Stewart Bean and husband Rick; Vicki Stewart, and Stephanie Stewart Karbowski and husband Rick; six grandchildren - Jami Hawkins, Christopher Bean, Jana Stewart, Julie Hawkins, Matt Bean, Jaylynn Stewart; three great grandchildren - Jarryd Hawkins, Jayden Stewart and Joleena Stewart; one sister G. Jean Friend and one brother Kenneth Richards, Jr. "
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