Ronald James Charles, 70, a longtime pillar of the Sterling community, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, following a long battle with cancer. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., Friday Sept. 24 at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Nazarene Church on N. Sidney Ave. in Sterling with The Rev. Vivian Hiestand officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery.

He was born Feb. 6, 1940, in Goodland, Kan., to Raymond and Aline Charles. Ron graduated from Iliff High School and attended Northeastern Junior College and Metropolitan State College.

He married Connie Lou McDonnell on June 18, 1961 at the Christ United Methodist Church in Sterling. The couple was married 49 years.

Ron's previous employment included Big B Drive-In, companies in Denver including H & B Construction, Denver Drywall, and McDonald's. Ron and Connie then moved back to Sterling in 1978 where they owned and operated the local Burger King franchise for 28 years.

Ron was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and Past Master of the Masonic Lodge, Sterling A.F. & A.M. No. 54, and was also a 25-year member of the Hi Plains Lions Club. Ron also chaired the local 9 Health Fair for many years.

He enjoyed camping and traveling with his wife and family, trapshooting with his grandsons and hunting and fishing with his brother and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Connie Charles; mother, Aline Charles; son, R.J. Charles and his fiancé Tammy Baloun; daughter Deena Schendel and husband Andy; grandsons, Matt Charles and wife Mandy, Carson Charles, Adam Schendel, and Drew Schendel;
brothers, Jerry Charles and wife Roberta, Darrell Charles and wife Georgianna; sister-in-law, Jo Huey, and brother-in-law Jerry McDonnell and wife Jo.

Ron was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Charles; father and mother-in-law, Larry and Helen McDonnell; and brother-in-law, Ken McDonnell.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hi Plains Clay Busters, a youth trap shooting program.