Charles Edward Reynolds (Lansing)

Charles Reynolds passed away Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at McLaren Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. Age 81 years. He was born September 6, 1936 in Keiser, Arkansas to Irene and George Reynolds. He was the oldest of three children.

Charles had a warm and welcoming personality and it was easy to get a smile or laugh out of him. He had a natural talent for listening and interacting with people, and accepted people for who they were. He attended school in Jackson and completed additional schooling in Lansing. In 1995, he was on the Jackson basketball team that won the State Championship. He also ran track, worked for the Recreational Department and coached a youth basketball team. His pool stick, now retired, has many miles on it; he loved music, especially Jazz, Blues and Country Western. He enjoyed cooking and sharing meals with family and friends. Travel was high on his list and he possibly visited every major city in the U.S., either for business or pleasure, and also vacationed in Jamaica and the Bahamas.

He was employed in Admin, at Clark Equipment in Jackson, Michigan prior to relocating to Lansing. He began his career with General Motors, Fisher Body Division, in 1971 and retired as an Administrator in June 1993 with 22 years of service. Charles had one marriage to Inez Crittendon, and their son Gregory was born to this union. From this marriage he also gained two more children that he raised as his own, Michael and Wanakee Pugh.

In 2008, after he lost his mobility, he still remained the upbeat person everyone knew. Some of his happiest times were when friends visited him celebrating the holidays. When the TV show Jeopardy came on he was a fierce competitor and welcomed the exercise. Each day he awoke with a thankful prayer to the Lord that he’d been given another day. On that fateful day he departed, the world lost a good man.

He leaves to cherish his memory one daughter, Wanakee Pugh; two sisters, Margaret Reynolds, of Lansing, Michigan (temporarily), and Linda Townes, of Jackson, Michigan; two nieces, Kimberli Williams and Lianne Reynolds of California; three nephews, Fordyce Townes III, of Atlanta, Georgia, Markas Townes, of Jackson, Michigan, and Tylin Sage Williams, of California; ex-wife, Inez Crittendon; and a host of family and friends.

Preceding Charles in death are his parents, brother Eddie, sons Michael and Gregory, and his niece Amber Reynolds.