Obituary for Charles O. Fears
Charles O. Fears, Jr., age 81, of Edwardsville, died Sunday, December 11, 2022 at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, IL.
He was born September 24, 1941 in St. Louis, MO, the son of the late Charles O. and Bernice L. (Bartch) Fears, Sr. He married Vernia R. “Ruth” Woolem June 27, 1964 in St. Louis, MO. She survives.
Besides his wife, Charles is survived by four children: Charles “Shawn” (Patricia) Fears of Godfrey, Sonia (Kenneth) Schanz of Bethalto, Tonia Kemp of Fenton, MO and Debbie (Jeff) Churchill of Jacksonville, FL; twelve grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters: Sharon Blair of Achdale, NC and Judy (Glendol) Garrett of Poplar Bluff, MO; and a sister-in-law, Brooke Fears of Poplar Bluff, MO.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Dennis Fears; one sister, Barbara Fears; and a brother-in-law, Butch Blair.
Charles was a member of Edwardsville Knights of Columbus Council 1143 and St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville, where he was a Eucharistic minister to the homebound. He worked for Granite City Steel (National Steel) for 29 ½ years as a control specialist foreman. He also taught electronics at Belleville Area College (now SWIC) in Granite City.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, December 19, 2022 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville. A funeral mass will immediately follow the visitation. Following the funeral service, his remains will be cremated and interred at St. Boniface Cemetery in Edwardsville.
Memorials may be given to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation or to the American Cancer Society.
He was born September 24, 1941 in St. Louis, MO, the son of the late Charles O. and Bernice L. (Bartch) Fears, Sr. He married Vernia R. “Ruth” Woolem June 27, 1964 in St. Louis, MO. She survives.
Besides his wife, Charles is survived by four children: Charles “Shawn” (Patricia) Fears of Godfrey, Sonia (Kenneth) Schanz of Bethalto, Tonia Kemp of Fenton, MO and Debbie (Jeff) Churchill of Jacksonville, FL; twelve grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters: Sharon Blair of Achdale, NC and Judy (Glendol) Garrett of Poplar Bluff, MO; and a sister-in-law, Brooke Fears of Poplar Bluff, MO.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Dennis Fears; one sister, Barbara Fears; and a brother-in-law, Butch Blair.
Charles was a member of Edwardsville Knights of Columbus Council 1143 and St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville, where he was a Eucharistic minister to the homebound. He worked for Granite City Steel (National Steel) for 29 ½ years as a control specialist foreman. He also taught electronics at Belleville Area College (now SWIC) in Granite City.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, December 19, 2022 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville. A funeral mass will immediately follow the visitation. Following the funeral service, his remains will be cremated and interred at St. Boniface Cemetery in Edwardsville.
Memorials may be given to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation or to the American Cancer Society.