A Life’s Journey
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
-Psalms 91:2
Charles DeBoles
Charles, affectionately known as “Speedy”, was born in Orlando, Florida on April 27, 1941 to parents Charlie DeBoles and Edna DeBoles. Charles was one of ten children. Charles graduated from Jones High School in Orlando, Florida and went on to became an Operating Room Technician while attending Orange County Vocational School in 1959. Within a couple of years of graduating high school he married Eloise Sumpter and out of that union two boys were born, Eugene and Charles DeBoles. After working as an Operating Room Technician for several years at Orange Memorial, which is known today as Orlando Health, Charles was given an opportunity to work on the medical unit at NASA. The job at NASA led him to become a part of the airline industry. Charles joined Trans World Airlines (TWA), which was later acquired by American Airlines, as a storage clerk handling all the parts for their airplanes and held this job until he retired in 2010. Charles’ previous marriage would not last but he was fortunate to meet and marry Ernestine Young on April 19, 1971. Later in 1971 they moved to Los Angeles California. The adventure in California would not last long due to airline staff cut backs so he chose to relocate to Media, Pennsylvania to keep his job. While in Media, Charles became a lead (i.e. in charge) in the storage clerk area. Charles stayed in Media, Pennsylvania for many years before choosing to relocate to St Louis, Missouri to maintain his lead storage clerk role for his job. Not long after the passing of his wife, Ernestine, Charles retired from American Airlines and relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to Kissimmee, Florida, where he remained until his untimely passing.
While living in St. Louis, Charles increased his faith in God and became a deacon at his church. He served faithfully in this role until he returned to Florida after the passing of his wife, Ernestine.
For those who know him, you would know that Charles loved watching sports and eating large quantities of meat. He even had a strategy for maximizing his consumption of food when eating at a buffet. He would state, “Don’t drink anything until you are done eating. That way you will not waste any space in your stomach on fluids”.
Charles left this earthly life on Wednesday October 4,2023. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ernestine DeBoles, and his parents Charlie DeBoles and Edna DeBoles as well as his sisters Evelyn Reddick, Vera Fairure, Patricia Snell (Nathan), Tessie Johnson and brothers Garrett DeBoles and Reuben Washington. He leaves behind two sons; Eugene DeBoles (Andrea) and Charles DeBoles; a step-daughter Andrea Wilkins; and three grand children; Owen DeBoles, Lakisha DeBoles and Latavia DeBoles of Orlando, Florida. He also leaves behind sisters Doris Jeane Riddle (William), Gwendolyn Burton of Orlando, Florida and brother Donald DeBoles (Nita) of Tallahassee, Florida and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, family and friends.
Leave a Condolence