Charlie Morrow (2006)

MORROW, TINDALE, MURPHY, NILES, WILKES

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 11/2/2006 at 10:53:25

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
November 1, 2006

REV. CHARLIE MORROW, Tama

The Rev. Charlie Morrow, 68, of Tama died from pulmonary fibrosis Oct. 22, 2006, at his home.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Oct. 26, at Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama with Pastor Jerry Avise-Rouse officiating. A private interment will be at a later date.

Charlie Morrow was born Feb. 4, 1938, in Pampa, Texas, to J.B. and Virginia (Tindale) Morrow. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Baylor University in 1960 and immediately joined the United States Air Force as a commissioned officer. Prior to his retirement in 1980, he attained the grade of major. While in uniform, he became operational advisor and staff officer for defensive and tactical use of radar systems and networks. As a NATO staff officer, he coordinated training and combat readiness of the radar systems of the Mediterranean countries of Italy, Greece and Turkey. He also negotiated the international agreements that linked the allied air defense networks with those of France and Iran. His marriage to Bonnie Murphy of Winterset took place Nov. 11, 1969, in Basel, Switzerland. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Charlie received his seminary training at St. Paul’s School of Theology. He was ordained in June 1991 in the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Throughout his ministry, he served the Iowa congregations of Winterset, Peru, Truro, Macksburg, Wesley Chapel, Hebron, Lewis and Chelsea. He also established Iowa’s Ministry of Presence Among the Meskwaki People, and served as its minister for seven years before retiring from active ministry. In that latter capacity, he served many regional and national boards, agencies, and task forces concerning United Methodist Indian ministries. After 20 years of military service and 18 years of ministerial service, Charlie turned to civic service. He was elected as councilman to the city of Tama and served on many community committees and boards — the STC Food Pantry and the Kid’s Corner Day Care among others.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, of Tama; one daughter, Adrianne Niles of Toledo; a sister, Carolyn Wilkes of West Monroe, La.; and one adopted granddaughter, one granddaughter, one grandson, and one stepgrandson.