CAMBRIA — Charles Oliver Jr. passed away Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. He was 91 years old. He suffered a fatal heart attack during a round of golf.
Mr. Oliver was born in Gary, Indiana, to the late Charles and Hattie (nee Beecher) Oliver, and was the oldest of four sons. Charles was raised and spent most of his life in Southern Illinois and always considered this area his home. He had lived in Cambria for most of the last 50 years.
Charlie was a veteran of the U. S. Navy, and served as an aviation electrician instructor during World War II. After military service he went into the construction business with his father, and worked construction until he retired in 1986. He was a project superintendent for the last 25 years of his career, and oversaw the construction of many local buildings, including Wilson Hall and the Law School at Southern Illinois University.
Charlie loved fishing, golf and bowling. He recorded two holes-in-one, and shot his age over a dozen times. He was also a talented musician, and played mandolin with several groups around the Southern Illinois area.
Mr. Oliver was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta Earline Oliver, in 1996; and by his brothers Fred, Bill and John.
Survivors include his son, Chuck Oliver and wife, Shannon, of Scroggins, Texas; daughter, Suzanne Oliver and husband, John Williamson of Crete, Illinois; granddaughters, Channa Hires and husband, Jeff, of Fletcher, Missouri; and Christee Highbarger and husband, Greg, of Overland Park, Kansas; stepgranddaughter, Joni Thomas and husband, Mike, of Owensboro, Kentucky; stepgrandson, Joel Williamson and wife, Alicia of Salem, Oregon; and 10 great- grandchildren; and step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by special friend, Mary Whittenberg of Carbondale.
There will be no visitation. Mr. Oliver’s cremains will be buried in Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale, next to his late wife, Earline.
Huffman-Harker-Walker Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements
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