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Charles Asbury Sheets, 82, of Green Bank West Virginia, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on April 10, 2024, following an extended illness.
Born on April 12, 1941, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Clarence Asbury Sheets and Ella Waddell Sheets.
He was a proud graduate of Green Bank High School, where he was active in basketball and football. After high school, Charles received a BS degree in business agriculture at WVU, and then was drafted into the U.S. Army. Most of his army life was spent in Germany on a U.S. Air force base. He spent all his leave traveling Europe. He would arrive at a destination by commercial transportation and then catch an Airforce hop at a designated time back to the base. He spent Christmas of '64 with a young German couple in Berlin. He considered his experience with the Army in Germany one of his most enjoyable and educational experiences.
After leaving the army, Charles returned home to West Virginia. He worked for the State Dept. of Natural Resources then became a Surface Mine Inspector with the Dept. of Interior. A new reclamation surface mining law was enacted in '78 and many of the older surface miners were not receptive and could be belligerent toward federal inspectors. Charles' calm and helpful manor caused many operators to mellow and eventually become close friends.
Following his retirement from Dept. of Interior, Charles felt a need and desire to return to Green Bank to help manage the Oldsmobile dealership which was started by his father in the early 1920s. Charles helped his father during his childhood and teenage years. When GM stopped producing Olds in 2004, with his persistence and determination, Charles received a GMC truck franchise. This was unheard of for a small rural dealership. He did business until the end of 2012, and was always loyal to Olds, GMC and other GM products.
After closing the dealership he said to wife Carolyn, "We must do something to get us up in the mornings." Following in his father's footsteps as an active Lions Club member, Charles became District Governor in 2013. District Governors visit all Lions Clubs in their districts (26) in WV and present goals and objectives to other clubs to motivate them to be active. Charles chose "Lead the Way" since eyesight is one of the main goals. He and his wife went to Rochester Hills, MI, headquarters for LeaderDog for the Blind and raised a black Lab puppy to become a Leader Dog. However, he did not qualify so they brought him back home to become a family member.
Charles was always a dedicated member and officer of many community organizations: United Methodist Church, Arbovale Community Bldg. Assoc., Arbovale Cemetery Assoc., American Legion, Durbin Lions Club, Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation and GVEDC Foundation.
Charles is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn Nottingham, of 57 years of marriage; his son, Martin, of Fairmont West Virginia; daughter, Charlynn Buchanan and her husband, John, and grandson, Roanin, of Jonesborough Tennessee; friend, Tatiana Solovieva of Fairmont, West Virginia; sister, Jeanne Carter of Wheeling West Virginia; nephew, Richard (Kim) Carter of Wheeling West Virginia; niece, Jane (Jim) Bengier of Ft Walton Beach, Florida; niece, Missy McPherson of Jacksonville Florida; brother-in-law, Richard Nottingham of Dunmore West Virginia; nephews, Shawn (June) and Shane (Brenda) Nottingham of Dunmore West Virginia; brother-in-law, Allen Nottingham of Dunmore West Virginia; niece, Cheryl Nottingham of Harrisonburg, Virginia; nephew, Steve Nottingham (Sarah) Riverton, West Virginia; and nephew, Charles Nottingham (Doris) of Arbovale, West Virginia; and several cousins, great nieces and nephews and his Black Lab, Durbin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Peggy and brother-in-law Gary McPherson; nephew, Chris McPherson; brother-in-law, Ted Carter; and great-nephew, Steve Carter.
Everyone Charles met was a new friend. The family would like to thank those friends who called, sent cards and traveled from around the country to spend time with him. Your kindness brightened his days and warmed his heart. The family would also like to thank the WVU Cancer Center, caring staff and hospice members.
Above all else, Charles loved his family as he loved the Lord. He served Methodist churches throughout his whole life. His outgoing and engaging personality will be missed in our daily lives, but the many memories that he created with those he loved and cherished will live on forever.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home, with Pastor Barry Ball officiating.
Burial with military honors will follow at the Arbovale Cemetery by The Pocahontas County Veterans Honor Corp.
Friends may call on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. until time of service at 2 p.m. at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Arbovale.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Durbin Lions Club, C/O Rick Wooddell, PO Box 176, Green Bank, WV 24944, Dunmore United Methodist Church 101 Dunmore Road, Dunmore, WV 24934, Leader Dogs for the Blind at LeaderDog.org, and the WVU Cancer Institute, Office of Philanthropy, PO Box 9300, Morgantown, WV 26505-9300.
Please send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com.