Charles Lynn Coonrod, 84, was born November 21st, 1929 in Clinton, MO to Irvin & Mabel Coonrod. The family moved to Springfield, MO when Charles was 10 years old. He attended public schools and graduated from Senior High (now Central High School) class of 1948. He was vice president of the senior class and played quarterback for the "Bulldogs" football team. Charles joined the U.S. Marine Corps with basic training at Camp LeJeune, NC. His USMC tour ended in 1950 at Guantanamo Bay Cuba serving in motor transport. Returning home, Charles joined a crew working the wheat harvest traveling up into the Dakotas plowing fields all night, then sleeping by day in crop owner's barns. He also worked for Boeing Aircraft in Tulsa, OK for 2 years before being hired by City Utilities of Springfield. There he began working as a ground man, learning the Electric Lineman Trade, and committing 38 years to that occupation. He was a proud labor union member belonging to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for over 61 years. Following his retirement from CU, Charles settled into a very well deserved life of leisure, working around the home, campaigning at the fair, and fishing. Charles loved to fish. Besides his wife, it was his life's love and they both especially enjoyed angling on Stockton Lake. Charles was widely known for his superior fishing skills as well as his fish frying expertise. His granddaughter, Alexis loved "Papa Charlie's river chicken." He and Joanna traveled to Canada, Mexico, both coasts, and many lakes in betwixt and between making lots of friends along the way. Joanna was always Chuck's favorite fishing partner. Charles is survived by his wife, Joanna (Appleby) of 61 years, two sons: Dave and his wife Elisa, and granddaughter Alexis of Bois D'Arc, MO; and Tim Coonrod of Springfield, MO; brother and sister-in-law Jim and Linda Appleby; sisters-in-law Maxine Coonrod and Shirley Doten. He was a longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Charles was preceded in death by his parents and all three siblings: Gene Coonrod and his oldest son Chris; Kenneth Coonrod and his wife Sally; his sister Irene and her husband Jerry French; and brother-in-law Thomas Doten. The family is grateful to the staff of Mercy Hospital, Ozark Community Hospital, Table Rock Health and Rehabilitation at Kimberling City, Jordon Creek Health and Rehabilitation at Springfield, and Preferred Hospice for their excellent care during Charles' last 4 months of life. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, 4 August at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. A celebration of life memorial will follow at 6:00 p.m. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made on behalf of Charles to the James River Basin Partnership, Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, or any other not-for-profit group advocating clean water.