Charles C. Kirtley

Funeral services for Charles Kirtley, 87 of rural Corydon, will be Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cornerstone Community Church in Chariton. To watch the live feed of the service on Saturday, click the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBIyEh7TCDE. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Hamilton Cemetery near Pleasanton in Decatur County. Charles' wishes were in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Cornerstone Community Church - Missions or to Ken Ham's Answers in Genesis, PO Box 510, Hebron, KY 41408. Charles Columbus Kirtley was born December 2, 1928 in St. Joseph, Missouri to Chester and Luella (Thornberry) Kirtley, the eldest of five boys. He grew up on the Kirtley farm west of Union Star, Missouri enjoying the rigorous work involved in farming with horses before electricity and tractors were common. When Charles was a boy, rain often turned their dirt roads to mud making them impassable with their '28 Chevy. His Aunt was concerned "that those nephews not grow up like heathens" so they walked a mile north and she took them to Union Star Presbyterian Church. One day Charles E. Fuller was preaching on The Old Fashioned Revival Hour on the radio that was playing downstairs in the Kirtley home. Charles was lying in bed upstairs listening and made the most important decision of his life - he accepted Christ as his personal Savior. During World War II Charles avidly read The Sword of the Lord and every John R. Rice book he could locate. He felt the call to preach one frosty morning as he walked over a mile to catch the school bus to Union Star High School. After high school at the suggestion of his pastor, he attended Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee. His major was in Biology and field trips to the Great Smokey Mountains to study ecology were some of the mountaintop experiences in his life. He also studied commercial electrical wiring. Professor Fish trained him as they wired the Army Chapel that Bryan College had moved in after the war. His brother Jim also helped as they wired a portion of the administration building. Charles graduated in 1951 and continued preparing for ministry at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. He graduated in 1954 and took additional studies at Central Seminary while courting Loretta Craig. They were married in 1955 after she graduated from Bryan College. The Lord blessed them with four children. Across the years they opened their home to over 30 foster children. They served in churches throughout Iowa; Parker's Grove Baptist near Shellsburg; Webb, Cresco, Riceville, & Hamburg First Baptist Churches; and Hillcrest Baptist Brethren Church in Fredericksburg. Loretta was killed in a tragic auto accident July 10, 1987. The support of the church at that time was a wonderful example of Christ's love. Charles greatly appreciated the friendship of the many people who had accompanied them on one or many of the over 40 work mission trips they had the privilege of leading or participating in together from Brazil to Alaska. On August 27, 1988 Charles married Mary (Fuller) Bennett whose husband Roy had been killed in a tragic combine accident in 1985. Charles had worked with Roy on several work mission trips and denominational positions. Mary adapted well from being a farmer's wife to that of a pastor's wife. They retired in 1992 and moved to New York, Iowa where they could hardly see or hear their nearest neighbor. They loved country life. After retiring Charles had four interim pastoral positions. They spent several winters doing volunteer work at Rio-Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Texas. He served with MMAP [Mobil Missionary Assistance Program] in Alabama and Florida, Hospital Bon Samaritan in Limbe, Haiti and went on work mission trips to Zambia and Malawi, Africa. He continued using the electrical training he received at Bryan College on all of these trips, as well as in the churches he had the privilege of serving. Charles was a true servant of Christ and will be remembered lovingly by those he touched all over the world. One of his greatest joys was when he taught college courses to future pastors in 2014 at Zambia Bible College in Africa. From Iowa to Africa Grandpa Charles was a revered man of God who shared his faith and knowledge until the Lord said well done, good and faithful servant and called him home to heaven. Charles passed away peacefully at home on September 4, 2016. Preceding him in death were his parents: Chester and Luella; his wife, Loretta; his brother, David Kirtley; and grandsons, Joshua Nichols and Waylon Kirtley. Surviving are his wife, Mary; children: Martha (Dan) Nichols of Cordova, AK, Mary (Carlos) Gonzalez of Cordova, AK, Chuck (Helen) Kirtley of Mills, WY, and Tim (Gail) Kirtley of Newton, KS; step-children: Gary (Yuki) Bennett of Akashi City, Japan, Vivian (Doug) Davis of Coralville, IA, Norma (Greg) Grove of Iowa City, IA, Rody (Tamy) Bennett of Russell, IA, Karen (Kelly) Gifford of Granger, IA, Ryan (Mindy) Bennett of Corydon, IA; 34 grandchildren; and 19 great grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers: Jim Kirtley, Sam Kirtley, and Bob Kirtley; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Cemetery Details Hamilton Cemetery Pleasanton, IA 50065

Visitation

SEP 10. 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM (CDT)

Cornerstone Community Church

120 Northwestern Avenue

Chariton, IA 50049

Service

SEP 10. 10:30 AM (CDT)

Cornerstone Community Church

120 Northwestern Avenue

Chariton, IA 50049