Charles Eldon James, known to all as Charlie, fulfilled his rich life of 94 years on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Born October 4, 1929, in a country family home in Arcadia, Louisiana to William Eugene James and Willie Kees Chandler James, he ventured off to live in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a little bit but returned to his longtime area of Minden still with his wife Fran by his side day and night.
Charlie joined the United States Air Force at the age of 17. He was stationed in Japan, California, Alaska, Florida, Germany, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Utah. He retired from the USAF after 22 years. After his military service he worked at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant until he officially retired.
Known and loved by so many people, Charlie was the unofficial groundskeeper at Glenbrook School for countless years. Even after he moved from Minden, each trip back to town would have him circling the school campus and asking many questions about who was taking care of what and why was such-and-such taking place. He needed to know! He and Fran began coaching elementary basketball at Glenbrook when their grandson Jeremy was a young boy. From that day forward they did not miss a basketball game any of their grandchildren played, coaching when needed, driving more hours than anyone could ever keep track of to keep the books for the team and offering rides for students who needed it and fed hospitality rooms, coaches, and referees as if it were their only job. Hospitality, welcoming, fulfilling were all words anyone who knew him could use to describe him so very well. He and his wife Fran were awarded into the Glenbrook School Hall of Fame, even having the Glenbrook Parfleche yearbook dedicated to them in the same year. After their basketball years were officially over the two spent all of their free time traveling in their RV spending many cold months in Mission, TX and summer in Pennsylvania to watch Little League World Series games.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Frances Ann West James, brother Vernon James, daughters Vicki James Mighell and Camilla James Madden, and son Charles Michael James. He had seven grandchildren: Jeremy Patterson, Mathew Patterson, Jacob O’Rear, Ashley Rowton, Erin Ramsey, Emily James, and Laura James. Also in the mix are 6 great grandchildren of whom he still enjoyed attending ball games and their various activities.
Preceded in death were Charlie’s sister Clois Eugenia James and brother Kedrick Benard James.
Pallbearers to attend Charlie’s side are Nick Rowton, Ryan Reagan, Heath Ramsey, Jeremy Patterson, Jacob O’Rear. Honorary pallbearers are Mathew Patterson, Bill James, Ben James, and Kenneth James.
Charlie wanted his service and burial to be at Mr. Mariah Methodist Church in Arcadia as he helped build the church as a young boy with his own father. Tom Howe will officiate the service to honor Charlie’s life at Mt. Mariah Methodist on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 11 a.m. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 16 at Rose Neath Funeral Home in Minden from 5 – 6:30 p.m.