Charles 'Charley' Francis Loucks

Charles Francis Loucks, "Charley," of Bella Vista, Ark., entered eternal life on Aug. 28, 2014, at the age of 102 at Highlands Health Care in Bella Vista. Born to Charles Sherman and Mary Frances Loucks on Nov. 16, 1911, in Peru, Ind., where his father worked a small farm. Charley was born again of Holy Baptism at the First Christian Church of Peru, April 16, 1922. Charley attended school in Peru until his senior year when he went to Shortridge High School in Indianapolis. He graduated in June 1919 and moved to St. Paul, Minn., where he lived with his brother, Lloyd. He was introduced to Lucille Plummer by mutual friends, fell in love and was married on March 26, 1932, and during the next 63 years together raised a family. Charley worked for Pauley Fixture Company in the midway area of St. Paul until 1940 when he became a firefighter with the St. Paul Fire Department. Because of WWII on April 4, 1944, he joined the U.S. Navy, and proudly served honorably in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Pacific and Asian Theaters of War on the destroyer U.S.S. Baldwin. When the war ended, he returned to the fire department where he served as a firefighter, captain, district chief and finally deputy chief until he retired on Nov. 19, 1976. Upon retirement and for the next 19 years, he and Lucille traveled extensively to visit family, play golf and enjoy their lives together. On Sept. 23, 1995, Lucille was taken to her heavenly home. Charley gave much of his time to caring and sharing as a volunteer both in St. Paul and in Arkansas. His golf game was a focal point as could be attested to by his many golf partners. In November 1997, Charley moved to Bella Vista, Ark., where he had built a home on land he and Lucille had purchased earlier. He volunteered at the Bella Vista Television Cable as a producer and cameraman until he retired for a second time in January 2014. Charley was preceded in death by his parents; his dear wife, Lucille; two brothers and three sisters; many nieces and nephews; and his great-grandson, Nicholas Schwartz. He is survived by his two children, Barbara Joyce Wilson and Donald Dean (Mary Ann) Loucks; five grandchildren, Cathleen Poechmann, John (Maria) Schwartz, Charles (Nicki) Schwartz, Beth Ann (Rev. John) Berg and Steven Loucks; 12 great-grandchildren, Tammy (Greg) Johnson, Lisa Poechmann, Sarah (Jesse) Phillips, Rebekah (Seth) Jaeger, Rachel, Patrick, Ashley and Katherine Berg, Melissa Jones, Jacqueline (Allen) Kuznicki, Samantha (Sean) Kupiec and Alexandra Schwartz; and 12 great-great-grandchildren, Asaia, Kyle and Mason Jones, Isaac, Julia and Ava Phillips, Norah, Silas and Lucy Jaeger, Rachel and Cole Johnson, and Natalie Kuznicki. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, at the United Lutheran Church, 100 Cooper Road, Bella Vista, Ark. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. Graveside service and internment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minn., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. Memorials are requested, in lieu of flowers, to United Lutheran Church of Bella Vista, the Wounded Warriors Project or charity of donor's choice. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.