Marguerite Furrow Charles

Marguerite Furrow Charles, 87, of Salem, went home to the Lord she loved so much on Sunday, October 10, 2010. A veteran of the US Navy, she was a cryptanalyst during WWII as a Petty Officer 2nd Class stationed in Washington, D.C. Later, she was known as dorm mother Momma Charlie at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, TN. She had a great love for children that was certainly expressed in her involvement with both the Boy and Girl Scouts. She was also a faithful member of the Westside Church of Christ in Salem for over 40 years. This daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend will be lovingly missed by all who knew her. Preceding her in death was her father, Harry Hartman Furrow; mother, Elizabeth Henrietta Mayo Furrow; husband, Donald Neil Charles; infant sons, Donald Neil Charles II and Baby Boy Charles; and sisters, Virginia Swann and Georgia Belangia. Her surviving family includes her sons, Kenneth Leslie Charles and wife, Sherry, of Bridgeport, WV and Stephen Neil Charles of Roanoke, VA; daughters, Peggy Carolyn Simpson and husband, Johnie, of Ocala, FL and Donna Elizabeth Charles of Salem, VA; foster son, Carthy Ray Dunbar of Portsmouth, VA; brothers, Hayden M. Furrow and wife, Katie, of Salem, VA and John H. Furrow and wife, Barbara, of Kernersville, NC; sisters, Judith Marshall of Roanoke, VA and Jane Jessee of Orlando, FL; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; and a host of extended family members, friends, and especially those of her church family. The family would like to thank the staff at the VA Medical Center, mainly of the palliative care unit, for their wonderful care. A period of visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the West Side Church of Christ in Salem. Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Roanoke. Jason Ridgeway, Richard Ridgeway, and Eddy Gilpin will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Marguerites name may be sent to the Childrens Miracle Network at 3629 Franklin Road, SW #205 in Roanoke, Virginia 24014. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.johnmoakey.com. The Charles family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, VA, 540-389-5441.