William E. "Ed" Charles

April 8, 2018 – May 18, 2005

William E. "Ed" Charles of Bedford, IN, died Wednesday, May 18, 2005, at Bliss House in Bedford.  Born April 2, 1918, in Bedford, IN, he was the son of Lowrey Earl and Clara Isabelle (Clements) Charles. He married Mary Frances McClung on April 13, 1946, and she survives.

Surviving with his wife are two daughters: Linda Jean Endris and her husband, Carl, of Indianapolis, and Donna Lea Kast of Bedford, IN; four sons: John Robert Charles and his wife, Donna, of Greenwood, IN, William Dean Charles and his wife, Denisee Stamps, of Bloomington, IN, James Scott Charles and his wife, Christie, and Jeffrey David Charles and his wife, Karen, all of Bedford, IN; 14 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by one son, Thomas Edward Charles; and one brother, Rex Harold Charles.

He was a 1936 graduate of Bedford High School and a retired veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, having served as a Lt. Colonel during World War II. He was awarded numerous medals and citations during his service.  He worked at Thompson Dairy Co. of Bedford and was a superintendent at Kite Construction Co. in Indianapolis, retiring in January, 1988. He was a member of the Free Methodist Church of Bedford; American Legion Gillen Post No. 33 of Bedford; V.F.W. of Oolitic; Retired Officers' Association; 8th Air Force Historical Society; 95th Bomb Group. He was past president of Bedford Boys Club; past president of Bedford Little League Baseball; and served on the Bedford City Council and the Bedford Parks Board.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21st, at Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home of Bedford, with Pastor David Colgan officiating. Burial will follow in Cresthaven Memory Gardens, with graveside military rites accorded by members of American Legion Gillen Post No. 33 of Bedford. Friends may call from 4- 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions may be considered to the Bedford Boys Club.