Charles 'Charley' Ray Rankin Obituary (1947

Charles Ray 'Charley' Rankin, Jr., age 54, a resident of Russellville, AR, formerly of Little Rock, Arkansas, died Friday, July 5, 2002 at U. A. M. S. in Little Rock, AR. He was born on December 25, 1947 in Fayetteville, AR, to Charles Ray Sr. and Dorotha Lorene (Karnes) Rankin. He married Sharon L. Simpson on March 27, 1982 at North Little Rock, AR. He was an Associate Engineer with Arkansas Nuclear One. He was preceded in death by his parents & grandparents. He attended Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, and Capitol Junior College, in Little Rock. He was a three time President of Arkansas Baptist Conference of the Deaf; a founder of the National Deaf Street Rodders Association; Founder, Member, Past President, and Reporter of River Valley Association of the Deaf; a member, Sunday School Teacher for the Deaf Ministry, and Deaf Ministry Leader at Grace Baptist Church in Russellville. He served two mission trips to Honduras teaching Hondurans to interpret sign language, how to sign stories, and built a church which includes a beautiful cross he made by hand from left over lumber. He also instructed sign language classes at A.T.U. He was a member of the River Valley Rodders and the Valley Antique Automobile Club. He loved fishing and hunting. Survivors include his wife, Sharon Rankin, of Russellville; one daughter, Victoria Ann (and William) Rankin-Hilleman of Rockwall; three sons, Charles Ray (and Beth) Rankin, III of Arlington, Brett Edward (and Lisa) Rankin of Coleville, Olin Jason Rankin of Russellville; one brother, Steven Harold Rankin of Little Rock; seven grandchildren. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Wednesday, July 10, 2002 at the Grace Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Roger Pearce. The family will receive friends Tuesday Evening from 6-8 PM at the funeral home. Arrangements are entrusted to Humphrey Funeral Service. PDF Printable Version