CHARLES & RAYE LANSDALE

Croley Funeral Home - Gladewater

Charles and Raye Lansdale of Gladewater, Texas | 2016 |
Charles and Raye Lansdale

Died: January 22, 2016

U.S. Veteran Private family services were held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at Damascus Cemetery in Lindale, Texas under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater.

Raye Dean Lansdale, 68, of Gladewater, Texas was born to John and Una Franklin on November 6, 1947 in Wewoka, Oklahoma. In 1966 she graduated from Hallsville High School and attended Kilgore Junior College. While in high school she was known for her infectious laughter and quick wit. She was voted “wittiest” in her class for two years. Her wit was equaled by her academic performance as she was a member of the National Honor Society and Readers Club. She was a class officer, member of the student council, yearbook staff and was awarded “Miss Torch” for her school spirit and enthusiasm.

She worked for East Texas Treatment Center in Kilgore, Eastman Chemical in Longview, Uniroyal Chemical in Connecticut, and retired from Spencer Harris in Gladewater.

Mrs. Lansdale is survived by her son Chuck Lansdale and wife, Kendra; sisters, Shirley, Violet, Janet and Deb, and brother, Doug. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren Janna, C.J., Michaela, Spencer, Mason and Kasie and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, De Alta and Bernice, and brother, Richard.

Raye Dean Lansdale loved and was loved by her family. A sister, “a person who is there when you need her; someone who will catch you when you fall; a shoulder to cry on; someone to laugh with; most importantly, a sister is always a friend.” – author unknown.

Son, Brother, Husband, Soldier, Father, Grandfather – are a few of the names we called Charles Leonard Lansdale, Sr. Charles entered this world on October 15, 1947 as the second son of Teddie Juanita and Leonard Lansdale. He was the son with the dimples, the one that, for some reason, every baby born to future Lansdales, always seemed to resemble. It must have been his handsome baby face.

On August 9, 1968 he married the love of his life, Raye Dean Franklin, shortly before beginning his service to his country in Viet Nam. He served in I-Core, where some of the most vicious fighting was conducted. Upon returning stateside, while stationed in Virginia as a military policeman, Charles and Raye Dean were blessed with a son, Charles Leonard Lansdale, Jr., or Chuck as he is called.

Charles returned to civilian life to work in the oil and then the construction business. He was a talented woodsman who worked patiently with his hands producing stellar work. In his later years, Charles had a kennel where he raised world class Labrador Retrievers. He shared this passion with his brother, Jim.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving son, Chuck and his wife Kendra; his grandchildren, Janna, C.J., Michaela, Spencer, Mason and Kasie; also his brother Jim, his wife Jackie and a host of nieces and nephews.

Son, Brother, Husband, Soldier, Father, Grandfather, Charles was all of these. He was funny, principled, honest and dependable, the one person you knew you could always count on to help you. He was optimistic and never walked away from a challenge, no matter the difficulty and this was for the entirety of his life. Charles fought bravely, he loved hard, and as with much of his generation, he lived hard. And while there will never be another Charles Lansdale, look around and you will see him reflected in the hearts of those he loved.

Charles is preceded in death by his brother Stephen Lansdale.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Valley View Baptist Church, 1602 Alpine Road, Longview, Texas 75605.