WILFORD B. CHARLES

Longtime Alaska resident Wilford B. "Willie" Charles, 79, died at his daughter's home in Big Lake surrounded by family.

Mr. Charles was born May 24, 1922, in Lyman, Wyo., to William and Alice Charles. He married his childhood sweetheart, Florene Bradshaw, in 1941 before leaving to serve during World War II in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Duel. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In 1956 they traveled north to Alaska with their children and lived first in Wasilla, but settled and raised their family in Eagle River.

Mr. Charles retired from the Laborers Union in Alaska and enjoyed traveling between their home in Phoenix and their home in Alaska.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Florene Charles; son, Kelly; and daughter, Teddy Ann.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Wade and Brenda Charles of Big Lake; daughters and son-in-laws, Gayle and Ron Smith of Settlers Bay and Tonia and James Julian of Big Lake; grandchildren, James Smith, Scott Charles, Ronald Smith, Tiffany Troboyavich, Randy Charles and Tracy Mcanney; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Maddie, Jaden, Tydean, Cooper and Sidney Angeline.

His family said: "Dad was a soft-spoken, kind-of-heart cowboy who loved to hunt, fish, fly around with the kids and gamble in Vegas. There was never a problem he couldn't solve or a knot he couldn't tie. He will be forever in our hearts and memories."

A graveside service will be held at Valley Memorial Park at Mile 12.8 Old Glenn Hwy. in the Butte at 5 p.m. Aug. 30. There will be a celebration of life at Ron and Gayle Smith's home in Settlers Bay as well.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home.