To give you all an update on Charlie, he passed away Saturday morning about 6:50. Officially he was pronounced dead at 7:30.
I was up early that morning sitting in the kitchen studying my Bible. Our sister Doris and their two adult children, Greg and Rhelda, were sleeping in the adjoining dinning/den area close to Charlie's bed. I heard some commotion and voices about 6:40 and went to see if I could be of any help. They were trying to get Charlie out of bed. He was saying that it was time for him to go. I helped Greg pull him up from the bed and helped hold them steady as they stood. Charlie was very unstable on his feet and quite a load for Greg, to hold up by himself. Greg had his dad around the lower back and pulled against him. Charlie's arms were around Greg's neck. I had one arm around each holding them close together and as steady as I could. Doris and Rhelda were both snuggled in tight on his other side. Then Charlie's legs began to wobble and sag. His head tilted over on Greg's shoulder and he was gone. It occurred to me that, as in his whole life, Charlie embraced his family closely and made them all know the love and unbreakable bond that their lives together had grown so securely between them. In his life as in his death, Charlie embraced his family with a mountain of kindness, care and love. What a special way for the three of them to be able to bid him farewell and me as well.
At any rate Charlie will be buried Wednesday. He is at Castle Ridge Mortuary, 8008 S. Military Drive West, in San Antonio. I will be returning tomorrow shortly after lunch for a family devotional, the viewing by friends, and the subsequent closing of the casket. His services will be Wednesday morning commencing at 10:30 at Northwest Church of Christ in San Antonio. He will be buried at Fort Sam Houston.
Charlie was our brother-in-law but he was as much one of our brothers as any of our brothers. He was a stalwart in the faith having served as elder for quite some time. In tribute to Charlie as a fruitful brother in Christ, the minister at Northwest read at his bedside late Friday night scripture from the book of Hebrews Chapter 6:10. That scripture reflects how we all truly admired Charlie as brother in flesh and Spirit and servant in the Lord's kingdom. Charlie sang beautifully, often led singing in church, often led us in our family devotionals and worship during family get togethers, and served diligently in delivering the gospel to many who have either not heard or not obeyed our Lord. He indeed was special and shall remain so.
Thanks so much for all your prayers and well wishing along the way. Obviously all our prayers for the restoration of Charlie's health could not out-weigh God's desire to grant to Charlie that entrance into the Lord's blessed rest. Thank you God for your masterful influence upon Charlie and upon many others, including myself, through him.
Jim Jones
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