Chuck Hargrave

As a son, lacking wisdom and strength, fear over powered me; In times past, I would turn to my father who would guide me to the truth. My father was a man of the word. The source of my greatest lessons are revealed in the word; Thus, i turn to scripture and fear is relieved. What can I say more profound; my Mother, my sister, my brothers and myself, fear, void from our lives, my fathers perfect love insured this.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love".

1 John 4 ~ verse 18

Charles (Chuck) Wesley Hargrave passed on 21 January 2021 at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas due to complications associated with a coronavirus infection.

Chuck was born on 5 November 1948 in Mount Vernon, Illinois to Melba and Charles (Charlie) Hargrave. He was proceeded in death by Charles Hargrave (his father), Crey Anthony Hargrave (his son) and Crey Lennon Hargrave (his Grandson).

Chuck is survived by his mother Melba and sister Beverly Williams (husband Bill) and her two children all of Peoria, Illinois.

Chuck is survived by his wife Carole Ann Hargrave. They married on 16 October 1971 in Peoria, Illinois at Saint Philomena Catholic Church. Chuck is survived by four of his five children– Chad Wesley Hargrave of Huntsville, Texas (born 1973; wife Kaitlen), Casey Andrew Hargrave of Fort Smith, Arkansas (born 1976), Chip William Hargrave of Rogers, Arkansas (born 1978; wife Amanda), and Corkie Hubbs Howard of Fort Smith, Arkansas (born 1981; husband Brooks). He is survived by a total of 10 grandchildren - Savannah Hargrave (2000), Frasier Howard (2009), Sydney Hargrave (2011), Phoebe Howard (2012), Finley Howard (2013), Owen Howard (2016), Theo Howard (2018), River Hargrave (2019), Saer Hargrave (2020), and an unborn baby of unknown gender to be born into the Howard family in 2021.

Chuck’s father was a Southern Baptist minister; therefore, Chuck attended numerous schools throughout his childhood. After graduating from high school in El Dorado, Illinois, he attended Southern Illinois University for a short period of time before accepting employment with Hiram Walker and Sons in Peoria, Illinois. However, his initial period of employment was brief before he was drafted into the United States Army. He served one tour of duty in the Vietnam War. He worked a number of different jobs in the US Army ranging from Engineer to payroll administrator. After an honorable discharge following his tour, Chuck returned to Peoria to continue his career with Hiram Walker and Sons.

He progressed quickly through the ranks at Hiram Walker and moved his growing family to a number of different states to follow promotions into higher-level positions within the company. This included a move from Peoria to Fort Smith, Arkansas to build the Hiram Walker plant in the early 1980s and a move from Fort Smith to Miami, Florida to manage an import/export division of W.A Taylor – a subsidiary company to Hiram Walker. His final move was from Miami back to Fort Smith in the early 1990s to oversee the distribution and logistics division of Hiram Walker. Chuck retired from Hiram Walker in 2000 and tried to assume a more relaxing life style. However, after about 3 months of following Carole aimlessly around the house, Chuck purchased The Well Liquor Store in Fort Smith. He and his son Chip, ran The Well for 6 years until he sold the store and retired permanently. The final years of his life were spent on the shores of Wofford Lake, where he and Carole have lived since 2012 enjoying time with grandchildren and time on the water.

A service will be held to celebrate his life at Christ the King Catholic Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas at 10:00 am on Wednesday February 3rd, 2021.

Services are entrusted to Edwards Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Christ the King Catholic Church Columbarium Fund where he and Carole have been long-serving members of the congregation and religious educational programs.

Online condolences may be sent to: www.edwardsfuneralhome.com