Charles Weldon Knowles

Charles Weldon Knowles formerly of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, died Friday, June 26 in Madrid, Spain. He was born Feb. 24, 1933, in Happy, Texas, to the late Warren and Gladys Knowles. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Colleen McKenzie; two brothers: Guy Knowles and Roy Knowles; and a sister, Jane Knowles. Charles is survived by his sister Delores of Prairie Grove; two daughters: Charla Harris and husband Stephen, of Ashdown; and Dana Knowles and husband Jose Maraver, of Madrid, Spain; four grandchildren: Alex, Maria, Emma and Carla Maraver; and one great granddaughter, Julia Maraver, all of Madrid; two stepsons: Doug Williams and Shawna of Skiatook, Oklahoma, and children Mark Sprinkle, Myranda Relph and Sarah Williams; and Greg Williams and Kelly and son Blake of Prairie Grove. He was also loved by extended family and many friends some of whom affectionately called him "Dad." The Knowles family moved to Arkansas in 1950 and Charles graduated from Prairie Grove High School in 1951. He served in the Air Force as a mechanic at Ellington Field in Houston before moving back to Prairie Grove in 1958. He and Colleen opened Knowles Flower Shop, which was a fixture on Main Street from 1959-1975. Charles worked as a postal clerk and then as a rural mail carrier until 1988 when he retired and began working as a teacher at Teen Challenge Ranch (formerly King's Ranch), a boys' school in Morrow, Arkansas. Later he substituted in Prairie Grove schools and then became a teacher's aide in the elementary and then intermediate grades until he retired in 2008. In 2013 Charles moved to Spain to live with his daughter, Dana, and her family. In everything he did, Charles served God with all his heart. He was a member of the Prairie Grove Christian Church. Memorials may be made to the church's Children's Education Building Fund, 611 Wayne Villines Rd, Prairie Grove, Ark. 72753. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 15 at 10:30 a.m. at the Prairie Grove Christian Church. The family will be visiting with friends before the service, from 10-10:30 a.m. in the church fellowship hall.