Charles Lee Stanfield

Charles Lee Stanfield passed away peacefully at High Point Hospice on September 22, 2017. He was born in Reidsville NC on April 12, 1923 being the first born to Charlie Stanfield and Ruth Bowland both from Caswell County, NC.

As a child Charles Lee was an active youth who never shied away from both constructive and mischievous activities. He was a charter member of the Piedmont Tigers neighborhood baseball team, attended worship at the First Baptist church in Reidsville, worked alongside his father during summers at the American Tobacco company and also joined the Boy Scouts. Most of all, he loved visiting friends and relatives in Rockingham and Caswell County.

He graduated from Reidsville High School in 1942 and while there lettered in basketball, football and tennis, serving as the captain of the men’s tennis team. He was known as a great dancer and would take every opportunity to exhibit his skills.

After graduating from Reidsville High in 1942, he enrolled at the Oak Ridge Military Academy anticipating that he would be called to serve. On February 18, 1943, he joined the US Army, serving in Company A of the 50th Armored Infantry of the 6th Armored Division as a Combat Infantryman M-1 rifle sharpshooter. He received training for desert warfare expecting to be deployed to North Africa, but after Rommel’s defeat was deployed to England. From there he participated in the Normandy invasion, landing on Utah beach in July of 1944. His unit’s mission was to secure the city of Brest, France to assure the Allies a deep-water port in the war effort. While attempting to capture Hill 105, he sustained a bullet wound to his right arm on August 12, 1944. He received a Purple Heart and then an honorable discharge while at Welch convalescent hospital at Daytona Beach in May of 1946.

After rehabilitation at a variety of hospitals, Charles Lee returned to North Carolina and attended both Guilford College and later UNC Chapel Hill where he graduated with a business degree. He then returned to Reidsville to work and resume his life. While working in Reidsville, he met Elizabeth Epperson who had moved from Ararat, Virginia to work as a teacher. They were married on January 27, 1951. Together they had three sons - Charles, David, and John.

Charles Lee worked in the retail store business, serving as a manager for several variety stores during his career. His was employed in Reidsville, High Point, Rocky Mount, Charlotte, Salisbury, New Bern, Lancaster, SC, Spartanburg, SC and Gastonia, NC during his career.

He and his wife Elizabeth enjoyed many activities together but his main interest was in spending time with his family including his two best friends, sister Jo Ann and brother David (Spuds). Over the years he had a number of hobbies including dancing, birdwatching, camping, fishing, flying model airplanes, visiting Revolutionary war battle fields and especially cheering the Tar Heels and Panthers to victory. He was also very interested in personal finance and was liberal in providing free advice to his family even when it was not solicited.

Charles Lee was well known for his wit, kidding and practical jokes. His closest friends and family were usual targets and the degree of joking was generally correlated with the degree of his affection.

Charles Lee was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, SC until his move to Stokesdale, NC 2 years ago. Prior to Lancaster he was member of the First Presbyterian Church in New Bern NC where he served as a deacon.

Charles Lee is survived by his three sons and two daughter in laws, Charles (Melanie) of Jamestown NC, David (Barbara) of Chehalis WA, John of Forest Grove, Oregon, sister Jo Ann (Tom) Nunnallee , sister in law Dorcas (John) Slopey, brother in law Nick Epperson, many cousins including special cousin Jean Lane of Greensboro and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his 4 grandsons, Charlie, Kevin, Zach and Matt Stanfield. He had deep affection for his grandsons and was constantly tutoring them on the fine art of practical jokes and mischievous ways, much to the chagrin of their parents.

He is preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth, his father Charlie Erasmus, his mother Ruth Lee, his step mother Jennie Walker Stanfield, his brother and sister in law David and Jean Stanfield and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.

Charles Lee has always made his presence known whenever he entered a room and his absence on this earth will be conspicuous for many years to come.

He has now entered the kingdom of heaven where he will finally be at peace and trade his old rugged cross for a crown.

Graveside Services with full military rites will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2:00 pm at the Baynes Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery in Caswell County, NC with Dr. Jay Smith officiating. The family will receive friends following the graveside in the Church Fellowship Hall.

The family would like to thank Hospice Home of High Point, Countryside Manor of Stokesdale and Morningside of Lancaster, SC for their compassionate care of Charles Lee over his later years.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Baynes Chapel Baptist Church of Caswell County, 1757 Baynes Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.

Hanes Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel is assisting the Stanfield family.