Charles William Falk

Charles William Falk, 83, quietly slipped from this world and into the arms of his Savior on April 8th, 2025. He left behind a loving wife, six children, 23 grandchildren, and a legacy of deep faith, love, and conviction.
Charley lived a life rooted in his love for God and his family. His steady, humble presence brought comfort simply by being near. Though soft-spoken, his life spoke clearly in the way he cared, in the way he served, and in the way he cherished those around him.
Charley began his teaching career in 1965, first in Mayville, NY, and then in Jamestown at Lincoln Junior High, and G.A. Persell Middle School where he taught until his retirement in 2000. As an English teacher, he brought literature to life not just through analysis, but by connecting it to deeper truths. Though he wished he could share his faith more overtly, his students learned through his character, and the moral lessons he wove into class discussions. An avid tennis player, he began the tennis program at Jamestown High School and served as its first coach.
He loved to tell the story of how he met his wife, Kathy, at a diner on a long road trip. What others might have considered a chance encounter, he regarded as the hand of God on his life. It was a story he never tired of retelling. From the moment he saw her, he was smitten, and that feeling never faded. Their marriage became the foundation of his life, and he adored her for the rest of it. He often said he was the luckiest man alive--not because of wealth or success, but because of Kathleen, their children, and the family they built together. In his later years, even as his memory began to fade, he still told her every day how blessed he was to have her.
Charley and Kathleen raised six children, and he made each one feel like a gift from God--because that's exactly how he saw them. Despite having so many children, who had so many events, sports games and school plays, he somehow always managed to always be there, camcorder proudly in hand, to capture every last moment. Charley didn't just love his family-he honored them. He held an uncommonly deep reverence for family traditions, treating birthdays and milestones not as casual gatherings, but as sacred, intentional, family affairs.
His love of documenting life became one of his quiet ministries. He spent countless hours assembling photos, organizing them by date, writing captions, and creating a detailed, loving archive of his family's life. Later in life, that passion extended into genealogy. He became the family's unofficial historian, carefully tracing not just his ancestry, but Kathy's as well-partly out of devotion to her family, and partly as a gift to the generations who would come after.
Raised Catholic, Charley went through a period of fervent spiritual searching after meeting his future wife. He began to study Scripture deeply and eventually accepted Jesus as his Savior, kicking off a lifetime of faithful service. For a time, he served as an associate pastor under Dr. Milo Thompson at Bethel Baptist Church, later serving as a fill-in preacher for several area churches. After retirement, Charley moved to Farragut, TN and became a Sunday School teacher at his church, First Baptist Church, Concord. Week after week, he poured his heart into preparing lessons for his Sunday School and Tuesday morning Bible Study, always seeking to better understand the truth and beauty of God's Word.
Charley wasn't one to offer unsolicited advice; he led instead by example. His humility was genuine, and his ego nearly invisible. Even in the classroom, his teaching style was more of a guide than a lecturer, encouraging conversation and discovery rather than just instruction.
He had his quirks-often particular, sometimes endearing, but always uniquely Charley. He couldn't bear to throw anything away, always convinced it might have a future use. Change was not his friend; he preferred the warm comfort of the familiar, whether it was a well-worn outfit, a decades-old chair, or an immutable interior decorating choice. He took pride in even the smallest details, whether it was lining up pills, writing checks with an almost calligraphic care, logging every tank of gas in a notebook, and setting his watch precisely to the second using the 6 o'clock news. Nothing was rushed. Nothing was careless. Ever the English teacher, he was always quick to playfully correct-"Don't you mean John and I?" And he had a special fondness for bad puns and dad jokes, sliding them into conversation just to see if anyone noticed.
He loved tennis, a passion he passed on to his children. And while his younger years featured polished cars and a certain flair, in later life, it was all about minivans-each one treated with the same loving care. One, with a maroon interior, prompted him to purchase every maroon accessory he could find, from folders to spray bottles. They didn't necessarily belong in a car, but they belonged to Charley's particular need for harmony.
Charley was preceded in death by his sister Alicia and his granddaughter, Hannah Nicole Eimers. He is survived by his beloved wife Kathleen, his six children Melissa, Warren, Daniel, Nathan, Bethany, and Evan, and 23 grandchildren, who will carry his legacy forward with love, laughter, and (if they inherited his sense of humor) at least a few puns.
A memorial service will be held at 1PM on Saturday, April 12th, 2025, at Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel. The family invites you to join in remembering a life so full of faith, family, and love. Come as you are. Bring a story, a smile, or a grammar correction in Charley's honor.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the International Missions Board at First Baptist Church, Concord.