Charles “Charlie” Ezra Elkins, age 71, of Huntsville Alabama passed away at his home on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Born and raised in Rolla, Missouri Charlie graduated from Rolla High School in 1969 and was drafted to serve in the Vietnam war shortly thereafter. After completing his service as a US Army Ranger Charlie returned to Missouri to take a job in his hometown as a welder.
A few years later he and his wife moved to St Charles, Missouri where he worked as a machinist for GE and at Scott Air Force Base before joining the Army Aviation Command to begin a 30 year career in logistics where he met his true love, the UH-1 Huey helicopter. He traveled the world for his job and in 1997 he was transferred to Huntsville, Alabama working at Redstone Arsenal where he was able to help decommission the Huey before his retirement in 2008.
Former resident of Pacific, Missouri Charlie is known best for his sense of humor and his passion for helping others. He loved fishing, NASCAR, Willie Nelson, driving his tractor and anything where he could work with his hands. Even while battling Multiple Sclerosis over the last 20 years, he was always quick with a kind word or a joke to brighten your day.
He was loved by family and friends all around the country. Charlie is survived by Peggy Elkins of Foley, Alabama; loving daughters Valerie Elkins of Fredericksburg,Texas, Heather Banks and husband Ethan of Gainesville, Georgia; the three beautiful granddaughters he enjoyed so much, Lilyana Grace, Madeline Maci, and EmmaKate McKinley Banks. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ezra Charles Elkins and Golda Belle Elkins (née Bohanon). Services to be held at a later date.
Lawson Funeral Home, 4532 Hwy 53, Hoschton, GA 30548, www.lawsonfuneralhome.org, 706-654-0966.