Charles Richard Venable

Mr. Charles Richard Venable, Jr. Mr. Charles Richard Venable, Jr., 89, died on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at his family home in Bartlesville. A memorial service will be held at the Adams Boulevard Church of Christ on Monday, June 27, 2011 at 10:30 am. Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Harbor Children’s Home, PO Box 1047, Claremore, OK 74018 or Church of Christ Prison Ministry, in care of Mr. Bud Tibbles, Jail and Prison Ministries, PO Box 326, Hominy, OK 74035. Charley Venable was a man of great loyalty and devotion to his family and friends; a man of good humor who knew how to tell a joke and how to appreciate one; a man whose smile was both sincere and infectious; a man who brightened many a room and more than a few lives. Charley Venable was born in Roanoke, Virginia on April 21, 1922. He was the only son of Charles R. Venable and Agnes (Pollock) Venable. He graduated from Jefferson Senior High School in Roanoke in 1939 and received his Bachelors and Masters of Science Degrees in Ceramic Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1943 and 1944. Charley Venable worked for a refractories company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for one year and for Blue Ridge Glass Company in Kingsport, Tennessee for six years. In 1951 he moved to Bartlesville and joined Phillips Petroleum Company, working in the Research and Development Department. He transferred to the Engineering Department in 1955, working there until his retirement in 1985 as Principal Engineer, Ceramics and Refractories. After his retirement, he consulted as a refractories engineer for several years. Charley Venable married Jean Elizabeth Herndon on February 2, 1946, in Kingsport, Tennessee and they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. They raised one son and two daughters, and made their home in Bartlesville. Charley was an active member of the Adams Boulevard Church of Christ for many years. He participated in the Prison Ministry, worked on community care projects, and occasionally taught Bible classes. Charley enjoyed duplicate bridge, fishing and gardening. In 1947 he directed the first American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) sanctioned bridge tournament in Kingsport. In 1970 duplicate bridge became his main hobby and he achieved the level of Silver Life Master in the ACBL. In the 1990s, he began managing two duplicate bridge clubs in Bartlesville and directed local games for many years. Charley was particularly interested in helping newer players learn the game. Charley was a member of the American Contract Bridge League, 55+ Duplicate Club, American Ceramic Society (50+ years), American Concrete Institute, the Pylon Society of Virginia Tech, the Hillcrest Country Club, the Kingsport Lions Club (Secretary-Treasurer), and the Kingsport Commodore Club (President). He had an active interest in Republican politics, served as Washington County District Committeeman for three terms, and worked diligently to elect Henry Bellman as Oklahoma’s first Republican governor since statehood. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jean; one son, C. Richard Venable III and his wife Katherine of Magee, Mississippi; two daughters: Pamela Hunnicutt and her husband Larry Feeney, of Bellingham, Washington, and Adele Baker, of Tulsa; two grandsons, M. Tyler Venable and Jeffrey A. Venable; three great grandchildren; and two nephews, Dr. Harry Benjamin Stone III and his wife Merle and Dr. Kearfott M. Stone and his wife Julie. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mrs. Harry B. (Margaret) Stone. PDF Printable Version

Charles Richard Venable

April 21, 1922 - June 15, 2011