CHARLES NELS TANNER

Covington - Captain Charles Nels Tanner, US Navy (Ret.), son of Keithel Raymond “Ton” and Ollie Maye “Totsy” Peterson Tanner, was born at Mount Carmel on October 20, 1932. He passed away June 12, 2015 in Tallahassee, Florida. Nels joined the U.S. Navy at the Naval Air Station, Atlanta, GA in September 1952 and married Sara Ann Sage of the Clopton Community on December 29, 1953. He had two children, Cyndi and Charley. During the first 13 years, Nels flew a great many types of attack and fighter planes from many different aircraft carriers, primarily in the Pacific Area. During his career, he was assigned to the following units: Attack Squadron-95, Carrier Air Group-15 Staff, Fighter Squadron-124, Carrier Air Wing-15 Staff, Fighter Squadron-154, 4th Allied POW Wing, Chief of Naval Technical Training Assistant Chief of Staff, Commanding Officer NAS Kingsville, Texas, Commanding Officer Fleet Logistics Support Squadron-50, and Chief of Naval Education and Training Chief of Staff. A two tour combat veteran of the Vietnam War and prisoner of war in Vietnam for 6½ years, Nels retired with the rank of Captain in October 1985. His decorations include: two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star, nine air medals and two Distinguished Service Medals. He flew for Federal Express for 10 years prior to his second retirement. He is survived by his wife, Sara Ann Sage Tanner; his daughter, Cyndi Mincy and her husband, Bill of Tallahassee, along with their children, Nan Serino and her husband, Nick; Mike Mincy and his wife, Shelly; and Zach Mincy with his wife Catherine; his son, Charley Tanner and his wife, Violet of Lakeland, along with their son, Sean Tanner; and a sister, Patsy Davis with her husband Mike, of the Charleston Community. Funeral Services are set for 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 16, with visitation to begin at 1 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery. The family requests that any memorials be made to Mt. Carmel Cemetery, the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Childrens' Research Hospital, or the Pensacola Naval Air Museum. If you would like to sign the online guestbook please visit www.maleyyarbrough.com Maley-Yarbrough Funeral Home (901)476-9778