Charles Carman

Charles Blane “Charlie” Carman was born December 15, 1930, in Pence Springs, West Virginia to James Howard and Jessie (Smith) Carman.

The family moved to Glen Roy in Coal Township, Ohio where Charles graduated from high school. He joined  the Air Force during the Korean War, and upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Ohio where he married Martha Sue Hastings. They had four children.

Charles worked as a truck driver in the early years, and loved telling stories about all the things he saw and did. As Charles told it, he came home from the road one day, and Martha shoved  a paper at him that showed job opportunities at the local Federal Prison. That was the end of his career as a long-haul truck driver. He worked in several U.S. Bureau of Prisons institutions before his retirement.

Upon his retirement, he moved his family to Bastrop, Texas. The new Federal Correctional Institution opened, and he was requested to join as an instructor, teaching small engine repair to inmates.

Following the death of his wife, Charles married Leola (Blackwell) Caldwell in 1991.  They spent 31 years together. During that time, Charles reintroduced Leola to music by making dulcimers and buying guitars and fiddles for her. They formed the Kitchen Pickers band with other music lovers, and played the nursing home circuit for many years.

Because of his love for law enforcement, Charles became a Sheriff’s Department Citizens on Patrol volunteer, patrolling the rural country roads to assist deputies.

Charles enjoyed being a Mason so much, he was a member of three Lodges: Post Oak Island in Beaukiss, Giddings and Moulton, Texas. In 2016, he received his 50-year membership certificate.

Charles is preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Martha; sister, Jessie Lee Dobson; brother, Stephen Carman; and grandsons, David Michael Carman and Jason Patrick Gonzales.

He is survived by his wife, Leola; sons, William Joseph Carman (Donna), and Ronald Carman; daughters, Pamela Culwell and Margaret Gonzales (Patrick); grandchildren, Beth Cleveland (Kyle), Michelle Lucero (Stephen); five great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers, Robert Carman (Janet) and Michael Carman (Heloisa); and sister, Ellen Pugh, along with many nieces and nephews.

He is survived by Leola’s family: daughters, Diana Saunders and Carol Patterson (Blan); granddaughter, Anissa Gahagan (David); grandsons, Erik Bradley (Rebecca), Ryan Bradley (Rayna); and 5 great-grandsons.

Visitation will be from 9:00am to 10:00am and the funeral service will begin at 10:00am on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at the Marrs Jones Newby Funeral Home.

The Funeral Home is locate at 505 Old Austin Highway in Bastrop, Texas.

Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Bastrop, Texas.