Charles Edward Sanford

Dec. 6,1935 ­ March 5, 2005
Charles Edward Sanford, ³Charlie² as he was known to one and all, was born in Acworth, Ga., and raised by his sister, Christine Williams in Cartersville, Ga. and Phoenix, Ala. At 17, fresh out of high school, he joined the Navy, attaining the rank of gunners mate, E-4. After his four-year enlistment, he re-enlisted into the Air Force, where he met his future bride, Margaret, at Edwards Air Force Base in Lancaster. Charlie served on active duty through both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and spent a three-year tour of duty in Tripoli, Libya, where two of his children were born. In November 1964, he was discharged from the military while stationed at Travis Air Force Base, where he decided to make his home in the community of Tolenas for the past 43 years.
After his military service he started driving trucks for DW Hays Co. hauling hay, then went to work a year later for Syar and Harms Co. where he worked his way up through the ranks to truck foreman upon his retirement. During his time at Syar, he also started a sheep and cattle company, which the family worked at nights and weekends for 20 years. Before his retirement from Syar, in 1984, he and Margaret started their own trucking company, CMS Services in 1983, a local construction and freight-hauling business. Charlie was extremely proud to have accounts with some of the biggest companies in their industries, such as Coca-Cola Bottling, Kaiser Aluminum, and Louisiana Pacific. He not only valued each and every one of his customers, but also counted them among his friends.
During his busy lifetime Charlie was active in countless organizations: USARC, where he was instrumental in building the Irene Larsen Center and Pool; Solano County 4-H Clubs; Solano County Livestock Association; California Polled Hereford Association; California Trucking Association; Solano County Dump Truck Association; Teamster¹s Union; Solano County Farm Bureau; Armijo Superband Boosters; Tolenas Homeowners Association and the Tolenas Elementary School PTO.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 47 years, Margaret; son, Charles Jr.; daughter and son-in-law, Diana and Ernest Coudright; son and daughter-in-law, David and Maria; son, Jeffery; his beloved grandchildren, Jessica, Michael, and Joshua Coudright; and great-grandchild, Nicholas Durham. Surviving siblings include his sister, Christine Williams, and brother, Harvey Sanford Jr., both from his home state of Georgia. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Nora; sister, Irene Blanchard; and brothers, Robert, John, James and Homer.
The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2005, at Bryan-Braker Funeral Home in Fairfield. Please dress casual and comfortable. A wake celebrating his life will follow the service at the CMS Services office at 2216C Cement Hill Road, Fairfield.
The family asks that rather than sending flowers, donations may be sent in Charlie¹s name to: Tolenas Elementary PTO, his children and grandchildren¹s school, or USARC.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bryan-Braker Funeral Home.