Capt. Charles “Charlie” Allen Parsons, USMC Retired, age 78, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 17, 2013, at Kobacker House in Columbus, Ohio, while surrounded by his family.

He was born on April 1, 1934, in Point Pleasant to the late Joseph Clayton and Docha Ethel (Cottrell) Parsons. He graduated from Point Pleasant High School in 1952 and soon after joined the United States Marine Corps.

Charles is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Madelyn (Higgins) Parsons with whom he eloped on her prom night, daughter Charissa (Bernie) Cattrell, and their sons Charles, Marc, and Blake, and son Timothy (Linda) Parsons, and their children Ashton and Logan, all of Westerville, Ohio; brothers Delmar (Rachel) and Carl (Donna) Parsons of Point Pleasant, and sister Eloise Huling of Rapid City, South Dakota; special siblings by marriage Roy and Mary Higgins of Delaware, Ohio and John and Leota Sang of Point Pleasant; and numerous nieces and nephews who cared so deeply for their “Uncle Charles.”

In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his infant son Thomas Clayton Parsons and brother William Denver Parsons.

Charles retired as a Captain after serving 20 years in the United States Marine Corps. He was proud of his time spent in the service and was quick to remind people that someone who was “once a Marine” is “always a Marine.” After retiring from the Marine Corps, Charles worked an additional 20 years and retired as a Postal Carrier for the United States Postal Service. He was well-liked by his customers in the Sunbury Woods neighborhood of Westerville. Charles enjoyed hunting and fishing, but chose to store up most of his treasures in Heaven. He helped most anyone he met in some way. It seemed like he knew how to fix anything and what he didn’t know how to do, he would figure out. He truly was cherished as a husband, father, grandfather and uncle.

His funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, February 22, 2013, at Hill Funeral Home, 220 South State Street, Westerville, with Pastor Tim Waggoner officiating. Burial will follow at Blendon Central Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, at the funeral home. Contributions may be made in his memory to HomeReach Hospice, 800 McConnell Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43214. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of HomeReach Hospice and Kobacker House for treating Charles like family and helping to provide loving care for him.