Charles Maple

Charles "Charlie" Maple, 87, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend passed away peacefully at home in Winnabow, NC on Feb 19, 2011. He then began his new life in heaven with his wife of 61 years Lavona Jean (Johnson) Maple. He was the oldest surviving son of the late Newton and Corrine (Miller) Maple. Charlie was born on January 19, 1924 in Elk City Ok. He is survived by two sisters, Helen Boles of Chico, CA, Mary and husband Bill Peabody of Siloam Springs, AR; daughters Dianna Baptiste of Fremont, CA, Beverly and husband Don Reed of Winnabow, NC, son Gary and wife Nancy of Carlsbad, CA; grandchildren Hai and wife Lynn, Kim, Jennifer, Amanda and husband Brad, Joshua, Sean and Katrina; great-grandchildren Meghan, Justine, Christine, Amanda, Krystalynn, Katherine, and Mikey. Charlie served his country in the Navy as an Electrician's Mate 1st Class from 1942-1946. After several months of touring his beloved United States he began a career in Tulsa, Ok with IBM that lasted until his retirement in 1986 after 38 years. He and Lavona then moved to their lake home in Ketchum, OK, where they became active in the community and members of the Ketchum United Methodist Church. He was a loyal fan and supporter of the Oklahoma University Sooners and active in the OU FANatics (even though all his children went to OSU). He and Lavona loved traveling to spend time with family, friends and attending the USS Hoggatt Bay Reunions with his shipmates. He is best remembered for his honesty, leadership, sense of humor, and as a man who always kept his word. The family would like to thank Charlie's special friends, Marcie & Bill Frazier and Bill & Barbara McMahon for all the ice cream, lunches and loving care they gave him while he was in North Carolina. We also thank RIGHT at HOME and Hospice for encouraging and supporting the family in times of need. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on March 26, 2011 at 11:00am, in the Ketchum United Methodist Church, Ketchum, OK with Reverend Dianna Bradford officiating. Arrangements are by Luginbuel Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Ketchum United Methodist Church, PO Box 239, Ketchum, OK 74349 or Lower Cape Fear Hospice , 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401 "A leader is a man who had the ability to get other people to do what they don't want to do, and like it." And so we bid you "Fair winds and following seas", Charlie.

Service Details

Saturday, March 26th, 2011 11:00am, Ketchum United Methodist Church