Charles William BARTLEY

BARTLEY, SHIPMAN, ABBOTT, KLEPFER, CORLISS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/18/2011 at 14:04:51

March 6, 1924 --- August 14, 2011

Charles William Bartley was born to Ethel and Ebbie Bartley on March 6, 1924 near Marathon, IA. His family included one older sister, Gertrude. Chuck attended school in Rockford, Iowa, playing trombone in the high school band, state and national music competition, and playing center on the all-conference championship football team. After high school, he began college at Iowa State, majoring in Poultry Science. After two years of college, Chuck chose to enlist in the Naval Air Corp to serve his country in World War II. He received training in Florida, Texas, California, Washington, and Hawaii before flying Hellcats off the USS Santee aircraft carrier. He attained the rank of Lieutenant JG before leaving the Navy.

One of Chuck’s proudest memories of his service was his participation in the evacuation of many prisoners of war from Taiwan after the war. His heart went out to these brave soldiers as they came aboard the carrier, many emaciated and barely alive. He was thrilled that he and Mom were able to attend a reunion in Rhode Island and meet one of the POW’s who had come aboard his carrier. This man, Cecil Clarke, and Chuck stayed in touch until his death. Whenever he talked about Cecil and the other POW’s and also his opportunity to take the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C to see the WWII memorial, his pride in his country was so evident in his eyes, sometimes through his tears.

After WWII, Chuck returned to Eagle Grove where his parents had moved after buying an acreage. The summer before going back to Iowa State, he met Marjorie Shipman. They dated at Iowa State where she was a freshman and member of the Pi Beta Phi and he was a junior and member of Delta Upsilon, Iowa State College Concert Band, and Phi Mu Alpha national music honorary. Following his graduation, he and Marge were married at the Shipman house on Commercial in Eagle Grove. He worked in Salisbury MD and then Jackson MS for Swift and Company, and then they returned to Eagle Grove when he accepted a job with Boone Valley Regional Cooperative as Feed Division Manager. Their five children, Pam Bill, Lincoln, Jim, and Jana, all attended Eagle Grove schools.

Marge and Chuck were members of the United Methodist Church for the past 56 years where he served on the Board of Trustees and Staff/Parish Committee. He also coached Little League baseball and loved playing tennis at Hewett Park and golf at the Eagle Grove Country Club. He continued to pursue both of these when he retired and he and Marge spent their winters in Mission, TX. He loved music throughout his life, and continued playing his keyboard in the Bartley Boys Band (Lincoln, Jim and Dad) until two weeks before his death when grandson Luke joined them during his visit to Iowa.

Chuck was diagnosed with COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - in late 2010. He adjusted to his inhalers and nightly oxygen and kept up his walking and going to daily coffee as long as he could. When he was forced to go on oxygen 24/7, he kept a positive attitude and learned to use the portable tank. Unfortunately, even with all these interventions, he continued to get weaker and finally was put on hospice. The last week of his life, he told his children that he had had a good, long life, was ready to go and be with Marge, his loving wife of almost 62 years, whom he missed dearly. God, in His infinite love, tenderness, and grace granted his wish on August 14, 2011 when he passed away peacefully in his home with Lincoln, Jim, and Pastor Mike present.

Chuck Bartley is survived by his five children and their families: Pam and Don Abbott, Bill and Dolores Bartley, Lincoln Bartley, Jim and Janis Bartley, and Jana and Steve Klepfer. His 11 grandchildren include Allison, Jessie, Meaghan, Meridith, Madeline, Trae, Karen, Emma, Chelsea, Jamie and Luke and he had many nieces and nephews. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Gertrude Corless, and his loving wife, Marge who died April 4, 2010. He kept this prayer by his computer to say daily: “Heavenly Father - please bless all my family and friends in whatsoever it is that you know they may be needing this day. And may their lives be full of your peace as they seek to have a closer relationship with you.” Chuck’s favorite hymn was “Great is Thy Faithfulness“ We are so thankful God was faithful in even the tiniest details and even to the very end of our dear father’s life.

Foust Funeral Home - Eagle Grove, IA
http://hosting-24983.tributes.com/show/Charles-Bartley-92148917