Sergeant Major Charles Ellis Pinkham, U S Army, retired, 89 years of age went to be with his Lord on Saturday, August 28, 2021. Memorial services were held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 6611 Zebulon Road, in Macon, Georgia. Pastor Jon Beck and Mr. John Holland will officiated. Full military honors will be rendered at 11:00 AM Friday, September 3, 2021 at Greenwood Serenity Memorial Gardens with Pastor Doug Chappelle, of Thelma Baptist Church located in Wetumpka, Alabama officiating.
Sergeant Major Pinkham was born in Denver, Colorado on Friday, 4 December 1931 and reared in Holly, Colorado. Charles was the son of Glenn Ellis Pinkham and Hazel Alice (nee: Carroll) Pinkham.
His grandparents were Charles Almon Pinkham and Alice May (nee: Hite) Pinkham of Holly, Colorado and, Ross Grant Carroll and Ora Lillian (nee: Griffith) Carroll of Lincoln. Nebraska.
He was married to Jeannie Tsuruko Tsujimoto whom he met May 1, 1954 and wed on September 7, 1954. They enjoyed their marital bliss for nearly 54 years prior to her being called Home by The Lord on January 19, 2008. Then, he met Celia Louise Dominy Green in June 2009 and they were happily married October 24, 2009 until his death.
Throughout his school years, he worked a summer as a drive-in theater parking attendant in Garden City, Kansas and then became the motion picture projectionist for Holly Theater in Holly, Colorado until he graduated Holly Union High School and joined the U.S, Army. During these high school years, he was a member of a few dance bands, i.e., Johnny Denton and his Troubadours, the Rocky Mountain Ramblers, the Flamingos, etc.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 7, 1951 with active duty service in the World War II Occupation of Japan, the Korean Conflict and then the Vietnam conflict where he was infected with “Agent Orange”. He retired October 31, 1977 with credit for 27 years active duty. He remained in the U.S. Army Retired Reserve until age 65.
During his service he received the U.S. Army’s Legion of Merit and two awards of the Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart in addition to numerous other decorations.
Thereafter, he worked with the State of Alabama’s Judiciary (Unified Judicial System) as Purchasing Agent from September 6, 1977 until he retired again on October 31, 1996 with credit for 20 years’ service.
Before joining Tabernacle Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia in 2010,
he was a member of Eastmont Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
Survivors are his beloved wife, Louise Dominy Pinkham of Macon, Georgia; his eldest son, Glenn Ellis Pinkham of Severn, Maryland; his daughter Hazel Adrienne Louise (nee: Pinkham) Smith of Albuquerque, New Mexico and, his youngest son William (Bill) Ellis Pinkham of Montgomery, Alabama.
He also had three stepsons, Richard Andrews Green II with his wife Jan. and Ted Adam Green with his wife Angela, both of Macon, Georgia and Chad Allan Green of Dublin.
Then he also has 9 Pinkham grandchildren (Yong Lee, Amanda Jean, Timothy Lee, Richard Neil, Kelley Ann, James Ellis, Ryan Ellis, Mark Ellis, & McKaela Rae) as well as 5 Green grandchildren (Sallie Ann, Rachel Elizabeth, Jace Allan, Lauren Elizabeth & Emilee Faith) along with 6 Pinkham great-grandchildren (Peyton Hannah, Emma Grace, Elijah Ray , Jayden Richard, Katelyn Jeannie & Grace Elizabeth) and 4 Green great-grandchildren (Sarah Elizabeth, Sophie Wright, Micah Van, and Ellis Nguyen).
Then there are a brother-in-law, John Dominy and his wife, Lynda, of Chattanooga, Tennessee; a Grandson-in-law, Frank A Pennel, husband of Amanda Jean; a Granddaughter-in-law, Samantha, wife of Richard Neil; as well as three step-grandsons, Morgan Nguyen, Brett Hart, and Edward Granger.
The Snow’s Funeral Home of Macon, Georgia will be in charge of arrangements in Macon, Georgia and the Greenwood/Serenity Gardens Funeral Home of Montgomery, Alabama will be in charge of arrangements in Montgomery, Alabama.
The family may be reached at 1157 Ridgeview Circle, Macon, Georgia and at the home of William Pinkham at 2204 McKinley Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama. Sympathy cards may be mailed to these addresses.
But, rather than providing any floral memorial arrangements, SGM Pinkham requested that monetary remembrances be made to the Tabernacle Baptist Church, 6611 Zebulon Road, Macon, Georgia 31220.
