Charles H. McKown Jr.

CHARLES H. McKOWN JR., M.D., 89, of Huntington, passed away Thursday, February 15, 2024, at his residence. He was born Dec. 29, 1934, in Huntington, W.Va., a son of the late Senator Charles "Jackie" McKown and Mary Sinclair McKown. He is survived by his wife, Sherry McKown and his daughter Dr. Sherri Mouw (Ted) and four grandchildren, Arthur, Ella, Clara and Lucy. Charles was a 1952 graduate of Wayne High School where he was the Salutatorian and excelled in baseball, basketball and football. In football he was named All-State two years and held the touchdown record at Wayne High School for many years and was a charter member of the new North-South Football Game Hall of Fame in Charleston.
Charles was recruited to WVU on a baseball scholarship and played from 1953-56 and was all-conference his sophomore year. He graduated in 1956 (Pre-Med) then continued another 2 years in medical school, graduating in 1960 from the Medical College of Virginia. He was drafted into the US Army Medical Corps as a Captain and was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and DeWitt Army Hospital and Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
For four years he completed his post-graduate residency training at the National Institute of Health before returning to Huntington in 1965, where he worked at Cabell Huntington, St. Mary's and the VA Hospital as an Interventional Radiologist. He also worked for Radiology Inc. He held dual board certification in Radiology Oncology and Diagnostic Interventional Radiology. Upon approval of the Marshall University Medical School, Charles became chair of Radiology serving for 13 years and the Medical School Admissions Committee also serving for 13 years. He also was the Vice President and Dean of Health Science (Nursing, Medical Tech, Nutrition/Dietetics and Social Work) for 23 years. He served for 7 years as Vice President for Health Science Advancement, including serving as the executive Secretary for the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center and one of the two distribution directors of over one million dollars annually from the Joan C. Edwards Trust for medical school scholarships. Charles also served as a member of the Greater Huntington Park Board for 43 years, was former President of the Cabell County Medical Society, former President of the WV Division of the American Cancer Society and a 4-year member of Hospice, United Way and the YMCA Foundation Board of Directors. He was an avid history buff who enjoyed spending time in Rehoboth Beach, Del., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Charles was a sports fan and his rooting interests included the WVU Mountaineers, Marshall Thundering Herd and the Washington Redskins. He was a big fan of the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals.
A graveside funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington. Visitation will be on Friday February 23, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Reger Funeral Home, Huntington. Condolences may be made to the family at www.regerfh.com.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Huntington and Visiting Angels for their help and compassion.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Marshall University Foundation for the Charles H. McKown Jr., M.D., Scholarship at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, c/o Linda Holmes, 1600 Medical Center Drive, Huntington, WV 25701. Gifts may also be made online at https://give.marshall.edu/project/26398/donate?des_id=225473