Charles Preston Stewart died March 9, 2009 in Atlanta, GA. He was born June 6, 1918 in Tuscumbia, AL but lived most of his life in Florence. In 1940, he was married to Biddy Blessing Luna of Florence. They were husband and wife for 68 years.
Upon graduating from Auburn University in 1942, Charlie became an officer candidate in the US Army Air Corps'' Aviation Cadet Training Program and was commissioned as a ground communications officer in 1943. Thereafter, he served 27 months in the Pacific Theatre of Operations as a member of the 80th Airdrome Squadron, 5th Air Force. At the conclusion of World War II, he accepted an active reserve commission in the U.S. Air Force. He returned to Florence where he was employed as an Assistant County Agent with the Lauderdale County Extension Service. In 1950, he was recalled to active duty and assigned as the commanding officer of Crystal III, an isolated Air Force weather station on Padloping Island above the Arctic Circle. After returning from active duty in July 1952, Charlie continued his work with the extension service. He later went on to work for SBS Electric and then became purchasing agent and personnel manager for National Floor Products, where he retired in 1980. He also retired from the U.S. Air Force Active Reserves as a Lt. Colonel after 28 years of service to his country.
Charlie was a long-standing member of the First United Methodist Church of Florence where he taught the Mary Douglas Bender Sunday School Class - affectionately known as "Charlie''s Angels" or "Charlie''s Girls". He and Biddy were life members of the William A. Graham Class, which he also taught regularly. Charlie had served as a faithful member and chairman of the Florence City Park and Recreation Board and also as a faithful member and president of the Florence Lions Club. His priorities clearly were: God, family, and country.
Charlie is survived by: his loving wife, Biddy; his brother, John Stewart and wife Elizabeth of Sheffield, AL; son Dr. Charles Preston (Jeb) Stewart, Jr. and his wife Eleanor of Atlanta, GA; son Duncan Blair Stewart and his wife Kathryn (Kappy) of Colorado Springs, CO; daughter Nancy Stewart Whyte and her husband Keith of Fairburn, GA; 6 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alta and Homer Stewart, his brother Robert Stewart, and his sisters Minnie Lou Mason and Duncan Haynes.
The service will be Friday at 3:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church of Florence with Rev. Gary Formby officiating. Visitation will be from 1:30 to 2:30 pm in the Atrium at the church. Burial will follow in Greenview Cemetery.
Pallbearers are: Greg Beadle, Byron Bower, Jr., Richard Parker, Jr., Robert Redd, Acker Rogers and Robby Wilson. Honorary Pallbearers are: Members of the William A. Graham and Mary Douglas Bender Classes, Byron Bower, Sr., George Carter, Jr., and Reuben Watkins.