Eduardo Barrientes Charles

After a long and courageous battle with pneumonia and COPD, the difficult decision to stop life sustaining measures was made on September 4th, 2022. Eddie was surrounded by his family and friends as he peacefully passed. He was 69.

Eddie was born on December 22, 1952, to Servando and Aida Barrientes Charles of Alice, Texas. The second oldest of six siblings. He is survived by devoted wife, Katherine Charles of Cibolo Texas, and his loving children, daughter Nikki Ramirez (Benito) of Nolanville, Texas, son Eduardo "Eddie Jr" Charles of El Paso, Texas, son Adalberto "AJ" Charles (Sarah) of El Paso, Texas, son Frankye Giron of Oceanside, California, brother Servando Charles, Jr. (Sylvia) of Conroe, Texas, sister Irma Castillo (Victor) of Alice, Texas, sister Margie Martinez (Fred) of Cypress, Texas, sister Norma Juarez of Sugar Land, Texas, eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by both his parents, his brother Carlos “Chucky” Charles, and brother-in-law Juan “John” Juarez.

Eddie lived a life of service to his country. At age 20, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served three tours in Germany and traveled extensively. Much of this time was spent back and forth at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. During this time, he married Lamar Lerma from his hometown and had 3 children, Nikki, Eddie Jr and AJ, and father figure to Frankye.

After he retired from the U.S. Army, he returned as a civilian training specialist for young lieutenants. He realized the importance of education and earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology in 2004 at the age of 51. Later, he met and married Katherine Charles during his last post at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. He retired after two decades — a sum of forty plus years in service. His love for the soldiers and America was unyielding.

Eddie loved his family, sports and a good game. A proud supporter of his daughter and her alma mater, you’d rarely see him out of his University of Texas attire. Hook ‘em horns! And when his granddaughter Gabriella studied at the University of Arizona, he happily sported a new Arizona polo ready to "bear down". Early on, he competed in racquetball and tennis. He won several tournaments while in the U.S. Army. Later, golf became his passion and the quest to improve his swing and lower his handicap. He especially loved being out on the golf course with friends and family razzing each other.

Eddie was intellectually curious, loved a good flea market, and incredibly proud of his children. He is loved by many and will be greatly missed. Eddie will be celebrated with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, shelter 1, at 3:00PM on Friday, October 7, 2022. Services will continue at Colonial Funeral Home, 625 Kitty Hawk Road, University City, Texas, 78148 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. All of Eddie’s family and friends are invited to attend.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colonialuniversal.com for the Charles family.