Charle Wayne Bailey

Charles Wayne Bailey, 83, of Roanoke, Va., died on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was born in 1924, in Markleville, Ind., son of Blanche (Dashler) and Jesse C. Bailey. It was in Indiana that he married and started his family and career, but he eventually returned to Virginia, original home of his grandparents, Charles and Jennie Bailey, formerly of Toshes, Va. "Chuck" was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Helen (Brown) Bailey; his sister, Thelma (Bailey) Bennett; and his brothers, Richard Marvin Bailey and Jesse C. Bailey.
He is survived by his sister, Elsie (Bailey) Kidd, of Anderson, Ind., sister-in-law, Roberta (Shields) Bailey, of Warsaw, Ind.; sister-in-law, Betty (Brown) Johnson and her husband, Forrest, of Anderson, Ind.; brother-in-law, Richard Brown and his wife, Delores (Hulse), of Anderson, Ind.; and many special nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his four children, Carolyn (Riggs) Strick, of Boca Raton, Fla., Donald Riggs, of Anderson, Ind., Elaine Meredith and husband, Al, of Thaxton, Va., and Jeannine Baeuerlein and husband, Jeffrey, of Baltimore, Md. He is also survived by nine grandchildren; 11 greatgrandchildren; and one greatgreat-granddaughter.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corp in England and Europe. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church and was most recently a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Roanoke. In post-war years, he was Sports Editor for The Bulletin in Anderson, Ind., and broadcast many sporting events for WHBU and WCBC radio. He played baseball in his church league and had a passion for Civil War history, basketball, tennis, golf, chess, and most recently was a member of the Lee High Seniors bowling league in Roanoke.
After serving on the Indiana Right to Work Committee, in 1961 he moved the family to the suburbs of Washington, D.C., where he joined the National Right to Work Committee, retiring after 25 years of service. In his last three years, he was pleased to become a part of the caring family of Brandon Oaks Retirement Community and to live closer to family members. At Brandon Oaks, he found a new audience for his many humorous stories.
The family wishes to recognize the kindness and gentle care of the entire Brandon Oaks staff, the care givers from Helpful Hands, the PCU staff at Roanoke Memorial Hospital and the many doctors in the Roanoke area who made his last few years healthier and happier years.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, August 18, 2008, at Brandon Oaks Retirement Community, 3804 Brandon Ave., S.W., Roanoke. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 17, 2008, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Oakey's South Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Roanoke, Va., or to Virginia Lutheran Homes, Inc. for the Resident Endowment Fund.