Charlie Harless

Charlie Clinton Harless LONGWOOD, Fla. Charlie Clinton Harless, age 84 , passed away Sept. 29, 2009, at Lake Mary Health & Rehabilitation Center in Lake Mary, Fla. Born May 3, 1925, in Russell County, Va., Charlie had lived most of his life in the Abingdon/Bristol area moving to Florida in 2003 to be near his daughter and son-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Harless and Gertude Caudell Harless; two brothers, Ira Harless and Warren Harless; and one sister, Eileen Harless Dove. Mr. Harless was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving as a torpedoman's mate on PT Boat 345 in Squadron 25 during World War II. He was honorably discharged when his tour of duty was over in 1946. He was an active member of the community taking an interest in youth sports activities by officiating baseball and football events. He retired from Raytheon Corporation as a tool and die maker/machinist in 1987. He was a member of VFW Post 6975 in Bristol Tennessee/Virginia and was a master mason in Zollicoffer Masonic Lodge 444 in Bluff City, Tenn. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen Tate Harless of Longwood; his daughter and son-in-law, Valerie and Mike Bennett of Longwood; and his son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Beth Harless of Marietta, Ga.; three siblings survive him, Clarence Harless of Bristol Tennessee, Evangeline Singleton of Church Hill, Tenn., and Mary Harless of Abingdon, Va. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Chris, Caitlin and Kim Harless, all of Marietta; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements entrusted to Collison Family Funeral Homes & Cremartory, South Seminole Chapel, 335 East State Road 434, Longwood, Fl. 32750 (407-260-5400).


This obituary was originally published in the Bristol Herald Courier.