Charles Robert Steele

Charles Robert Steele, 73, passed away Saturday morning September 26, 2015 at his home in Bryan. Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, 2015 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, September 30th at First Baptist Church in College Station with Reverend Troy Allen and Dr. Robert Steele, son of Charles Steele, officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery of College Station.

Charles was born June 11, 1942 to Lona LaVern Pickett and William Robert Steele in Wichita Falls, Texas. He attended school in Wichita Falls and graduated from Petrolia High School in Petrolia, Texas. He worked for A&P Grocery Stores in Duncan, Oklahoma, and Henrietta and Wichita Falls, Texas, in management. While in Duncan, he also served as an Auxiliary Police Officer with the Duncan Police Department. He then operated a bread route for Tastee Bread for 10 years before opening his own restaurant, the “Trio Catfish Inn” in Henrietta, Texas. After eleven years in the restaurant business, Charles decided to join the Texas State Department of Corrections and became a member of the first graduating class of Correctional Officers from Vernon College in Vernon, Texas. Charles retired after serving the State of Texas for eleven years at the Allred Unit in Wichita Falls. Charles wasn’t one to sit around after retirement. He drove a school bus in both Weatherford and Navasota and a FedEx truck locally, before going to work for Executive Security, where he worked until the time of his death.

Charles was a member of First Baptist Church in College Station. He also was a 32nd Degree Mason in Henrietta, and a member of Scottish Rite. Charles loved his family, his church and Sunday School class. He and his wife Karen enjoyed raising Shih Tzu’s for 17 years and leaves behind his beloved Teddie, Panda, Honey, Lacy, and Aggie. He is preceded in death by his parents, and one sister, Billie Gail Tucker.

Charles is survived by his loving wife of seventeen years, Karen Louise Steele of Bryan; two sons, Dr. Robert Steele and his wife Jennifer of High Point, North Carolina and Charles Allen Steele of Knox City, Texas; one daughter, Julia Clark and her husband Terry of Springdale, Arkansas; three step-sons, Dr. Mark Stickney and his wife Dr. Nicole Stickney of College Station, Todd Stickney of Bryan, and Lynn Nixon and his wife Leslie of Henrietta, Texas; seventeen grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Charles’ name to Pawed Squad Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 7121, Abilene, TX 79606.