Charles Mays

1937 - 2017

Mays, Charles
Charles Mays, age 79, of Sunbury, died Tuesday afternoon, September 12, 2017 at Country View of Sunbury after battling dementia/Alzheimer's for over a decade. He was born on November 12, 1937 in Lexington, Virginia the son of the late Edwin and Grace (Hicks) Mays. Charles enlisted in the Marine Corp at age 15, serving during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return from service he graduated from Linden McKinley High School. He was a devoted civil servant, working in law enforcement for nearly twenty years. His service included the Franklin County Sherriff's Department where he did some work as a mounted officer and special duty as a funeral escort and more recently, he worked for the Genoa Police Department retiring in 2004 as a lieutenant. Charles also owned and operated Cemco roofing in Westerville for 10 years. His hobbies included, riding his Gold Wing, horseback riding, and working in the yard. He was also a sports fan, especially college basketball. He also enjoyed playing volleyball as a younger man. Charles loved Summer family picnics and if you've attended you'll remember his unique cooking attire. When writing of Charles, we must mention his Rottweilers and the joy he received from playfully teasing his friends and family. He was a Friend of Dr. Bob's, serving as a faithful AA Member for over 53 years. He will be missed by his wife, Joanne; daughter, Wendy Valentini and her husband, Nick of Columbus; son, Ritch of Marysville; grandson, Nathan Mays; step-daughters, Catherine Walker of Columbus and Jeanne Williams and her husband, John of Orient, Ohio; step-son, Ryan Walker and his wife, Kami of Bloomington, Illinois; brothers, Wally and his wife, Diz of Biloxi, Mississippi and John and his wife, Theresa of Huntsville, Alabama; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Bob and Sandy Simpson and David and Maryann Pemberton. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his grandparents Grace and Lee Debus, grandson Jeremy Mays and sisters Laura and Dixie Mays and Margie Holbrook. Friends may call on the family on Friday, September 15, 2017 from 4-7 p.m. at the DeVORE-SNYDER FUNERAL HOME, 637 North State Route 61, Sunbury, Ohio 43074. Funeral services will be held there on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Wayne Booth officiating. Friends may also call from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Inurnment with full military honors will take place at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman at a later date. Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to Heartland Hospice, 6500 Busch Blvd., Suite 210, Columbus, OH 43229 or the Alzheimer's Association, Central Ohio Chapter, 1379 Dublin Rd., Columbus, OH 43215. The DeVore-Snyder Funeral Home of Sunbury is honored to serve Mr. Mays family. Special memories and condolences can be shared with them at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.