Charles Earl WILMARTH

WILMARTH, BARRY, FULTON, LIEUWEN, GRIFFEN, THEEDE, TAYLOR

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/11/2011 at 12:03:07

January 26, 1921 --- October 6, 2011

BELMOND, IA - Charles E. "Chuck" Wilmarth, age 90, of Belmond, and Shreveport, La., passed away Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, at the Live Oaks Health Care Center in Shreveport, La. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Belmond. The Rev. Nils Hernandez will officiate. Burial will take place in St. Francis Cemetery near Belmond. Visitation will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, Monday, Oct. 10, at the Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane South in Belmond, and one hour prior to services on Tuesday. A scriptural wake service will be held at 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Charles Earl, the son of Earl and Rose Barry Wilmarth, was born Jan. 26, 1921, in Oregon, Ill., where he grew up. Chuck graduated from Oregon High School then attended the University of Illinois in Champaign, graduating in 1942, with a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree. In 1943 he moved to Belmond, and began his work as research director for Thompson Hybrid Corn Company. Chuck was united in marriage to Ruth Fulton in 1944 in Belmond. The couple made their home on Oak Ridge Farm near Belmond where they raised their family. Chuck continued his lifetime love of research work in the R. B. Thompson seed business. The business went through ownership changes over the years and Chuck retired from Cargill in 1987. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Belmond. Chuck belonged to numerous trade organizations devoted to the development of better crops for farmers. Chuck was an active community member, serving on both Clarmond Country Club and Belmond Country Club boards, as well as numerous other community organizations and activities in Belmond over the years. Ruth passed away in 2002. In 2003, Chuck married long-time family friend Betty Lieuwen Griffen. Chuck and Betty originally spent summers at the farm in Belmond and winters at Betty's home in Benton, La. In 2010, they moved to Live Oak Retirement Center in Shreveport, La.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Betty; children, Sue Wilmarth of Minneapolis, Minn., and Lee (Paula) Wilmarth of Decorah; grandchildren, Beth (Paul) Theede of Rushford, Minn., Melissa Wilmarth of Athens, Ga., and Kevin Wilmarth of Dallas, Texas; great-grandchildren, Avery, Madelyn and Andrew Theede; and Betty's children, Dr. F. Dean (Carolyn) Griffen of Shreveport, La., Darla Griffen Taylor of Haverhill, Mass., and Fred Griffen of Cincinnatus, N.Y.; as well as ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren Betty brought to Chuck's life. Chuck loved all the children and they loved him. Chuck is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth; and his siblings, Frances, Marion, Clara Rose, and Eugene. Dugger Funeral Home, Belmond.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa
October 10, 2011