Charles J. Lafayette, Cole Camp

Charles John Lafayette, 80, of Cole Camp, died Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Cole Camp.

He was born Jan. 15, 1928, in New Auburn, Wis., a son of Richard Edward and Margaret Emily Goodman Lafayette. In 1955, he was married to Beverly Sue Estes, who died earlier.

When he was 2 months old, he moved to Missouri to be raised by his grandparents, Charlie and Louise Koeller. On Jan. 15, 1944, he moved to Colorado to live with his father. In July 1945, he moved back to Cole Camp. In the late 1940s and early 50s, he played his guitar and sang for radio stations for live broadcasts. From 1954-1956, he was an Army medic. He drove a refrigerated truck for Navajo Truck Lines.

In the early 1970s, he operated Chuck’s Air Conditioning and Refrigeration in Cole Camp. He was self-employed dump truck driver until the late 1980s. In 1977, he built the Chuckwagon in Cole Camp, which he owned and operated until 1984. He owned Wilson’s Trailer Court in Sedalia. He enjoyed listening to music, the news and Rush Limbaugh.

Surviving are a daughter-in-law, Angela Lafayette, of Marion, Texas; four grandchildren, John C. Lafayette, of Rogers, Ark., Katherine L. Bonnin of Albuquerque, N.M., Elizabeth A. Polanco, of Beaumont, Texas, and Victoria Lafayette, of Marion, Texas; three great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by a son, Dana Lafayette in 2006; and infant son and daughter, who were twins.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Fox Funeral Home in Cole Camp, with the Rev. Todd Kollbaum officiating. Pallbearers will be Alvin Koeller, Kenneth Koeller, David Moellman, Ron Huffman, Ray Metscher Jr., Frank Kreisel, Arlie Knox and Larry Goodrich. Honorary pallbearers will be Raymond Metscher, Harry Young, Bob Matheny, Arban J. Knoch and Ervin Kaden. Burial will be in Union-Williams Cemetery in Cole Camp, with military rites by American Legion Post 305 of Cole Camp.

The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Union-Williams Cemetery, in care of the funeral home.