ELKHART — Charles A. Perry, 69, of Elkhart, was called home by his Heavenly Father following an extended illness Sunday, Sept. 4 at 3:20 a.m. at the Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart.

He was born April 12, 1947 in Charleston, W.Va. to the late Howard R. and Garnett V. (Rose) Perry. He later married Karen J. Frame in 1965 in Akron, OH. She survives at home.

Also surviving is his daughter Jantha (Damion) Corp of Elkhart; brothers Lester (Jackie) and Kevin (Cindy) Perry of Elkhart and Keith Perry of Lagrange; sisters Malinda (Wayne) Lethiot of White Pigeon, and Judy (Kenneth) Carpenter of Hernshaw, W.Va.; grandchildren Brandon Abel and Payton and Lauryn Corp, and a great-granddaughter, Sarah Swoape.

Charles was an over-the-road truck driver for over 25 years, retiring from the Viking Corp. in 2003. An avid horse enthusiast, Charles loved to ride and train horses. He was also very handy, and enjoyed crafting things out of old horseshoes. Charles was never lacking on sage advice, and he earned that wisdom as a graduate cum laude of the "Elkhart School of Knowledge", otherwise known as Callahan's Restaurant.

Charles' life will be celebrated 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart, with a viewing beginning at 5 p.m. Charles' brother, Keith Perry, will officiate services and the family will meet at the Little Pine Cemetery in Goshen 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, for burial services there.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to either the Hospice Foundation or Loveway.

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