Charles H. Staggs
October 17, 2005
Charles H. Staggs, 75, died Saturday
(Oct. 15, 2005) at Newton Medical Center. He was born April 17, 1930,
to Patrick Henry and Emma Elizabeth (Hill) Staggs in Clarion, Iowa.
They preceded him in death. He married Dorothy Naylor in 1950 in
Newton. They later divorced, and she preceded him in death July 3,
1996. He married Donna J. Knox Nov. 2, 1972, in Wichita. She survives
of the home. He attended Clarion schools until he moved to Newton and
graduated from Newton High School in 1948. He served his country from
1951 to 1953 as a locomotive engineer for the 714th railway operating
battalion based out of Fort Eustis, Va. Charles retired from the
Santa Fe Railroad as a locomotive engineer in 1989 after 44 years of
service. He also operated Staggs Orchard in Mason Township in
southwest Harvey County for 30 years. Charles earned his Eagle Scout
award and enjoyed being involved in scouting as a leader.
Other survivors include: a son,
Jonathan Gregory Staggs of Topeka; a daughter, Catherine Louise
Staggs of Texas; stepdaughters, Kathy Gray of Duncanville, Texas, and
Mary Kehl-McGee of Daytona Beach, Fla.; sisters-in-law, Eleanor
Staggs and Maxine Staggs, both of Wichita; and two grandchildren.
The family will greet friends from 1 to
2 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday
at the church with the Rev. Phil Fischer officiating.
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorials have been established with
Central Homecare and Hospice in care of the funeral home.