Charles would start school at 6-years-old after passing his mom’s test of being able to count to 100 and recite the alphabet. Starting at Coal Creek School and then going to Howard after his sister Alice started school due to increased tuition, even though it was almost two times farther from their home. Charles would attend Walker High School for two years before he would quit to start working. After a year off, his Aunt Vinta Hamilton insisted that he go back, and after a talk with the principal Charles would complete two years of school in one year’s time and graduate with his original class in May of 1950.
After graduation, Charles worked with his Uncle Roscoe Hamilton on the farm as well as completing a variety of jobs for friends and neighbors. Charles loved to work with his hands and there was never a problem that he couldn’t build a solution for.
In November of 1952, Charles received a draft notice and was inducted into the United States Army on December 12, 1952. After clearing his screenings and other exams at the KC MO Induction Center he would then go to Fort Chaffee in Arkansas before beginning basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. Charles wrote a collection of letters to his mom while in basic that the family is beyond grateful for. After he was trained and received his recognition as a Fire Direction Control Plotter he was flown to Camp Stoneman in Oakland, California for 30 days before arriving at the USS Weigel Sasebo in Japan and eventually landing in Inchon Bay Korea with the 68th AAA Gun Battalion.
When asked about his time in the military Charles would say that, while he was trained and prepared, he had prayed that he would never have to use the training to take someone’s life. God answered that prayer by having Chaplain Jack Randles there needing an assistant. Charles would help Chaplain Randles set up and take down supplies for services (5 a day), work with orphanages and gain a new respect for the life he had been given. Charles would credit Chaplain Randles for not only providing the opportunity for him to learn about the Army, but also the reason he would continue to believe in the power of God and how important it was to put faith first and serve in both your church and your community.
When his 16 months of service was completed in Korea, Charles returned to the United States. He vividly remembered putting his feet back on American soil and used his experiences to remind everyone that freedom isn’t free. He served 8 years of reserve duty and was honorably discharged on December 10, 1962 with a rank of Corporal along with the following honors: Korean Service Medal & Ribbon with Bronze Star; Korean War Service Medal & Ribbon by Republic of Korea; Good Conduct Medal and Ribbon; National Defense Medal & Ribbon; United Nations Medal & Ribbon and the Rifleman Medal.
An avid supporter of Veterans, Charles was a lifetime member of the VFW and he and Neoma worked together to tell the stories of local individuals who served our country, leaving a legacy that will withstand forever.
After returning to Vernon County, Missouri, Charles went back to the farm and helped his Uncle Roscoe Hamilton. While at the blacksmith’s shop picking up something he ran into Neoma Alexander who happened to also be there with her dad. His eye was caught and he would later ask her to marry him, and although the 7-year age difference might have worried her dad at first, it turned into one of the greatest love stories ever lived. They were married on June 15, 1957 and never looked back, celebrating 67 years of marriage before her passing in November of 2024.
Together they would bring 3 children into this world, Charles Eugene Foreman, Jr (Chuckie); Chester Lee Foreman (Chet), and Christine Elizabeth Foreman. They grew up in the farmhouse that was given to Charles by his Uncle Rock until moving to the other side of Walker in 1972.
Charles was a devoted member, Sunday School teacher, and deacon at Walker First Baptist Church for many years until its closing. He then attended Schell City First Baptist Church, and later Nevada First Baptist once it became too much for him and Neoma to drive back and forth with icy roads and health obstacles. It didn’t matter the building, Charles could tell someone about the gospel, and he did so with vigor, love and a passion that made you sit down and listen.
While talking to a neighbor one day that was getting ready to go and take a test to see about becoming a Rural Mail Carrier, Charles decided he would go along and see how hard it was. He aced the test and would serve both the Walker and Harwood communities as a Rural Mail Carrier from September 21, 1968 until his retirement on August 3, 1992. The endless stories of how Charles used that job to serve others can be found all over the community. Whether it was pulling someone out of a ditch, helping someone that had fallen in their home, to reuniting a child with their parents, he was always available to help. He loved his job and his community.
Retirement didn’t bring rest or respite as Charles still held the title of “farmer”. His polled Herefords and Allis-Chalmers tractors were his pride and joy and they always needed assistance of some kind. He did give Neoma enough content to keep up an entire weekly column in the local newspaper titled “Country Connections” from his daily tasks. These could range from having cattle out, cutting off part of his finger while building a crib, to running himself over with a tractor. No two days were ever the same, but he always seemed to take it all with a grin.
Charles enjoyed attending the local festivals, especially Walker Fun Days, The El Dorado Picnic, Schell City Fall Festival and Bushwhacker Days. His love for fixing vehicles kept active entries in the parades, and a full shop! It was always a tradition each year for Grandpa/Pappy to take whoever the newest grandkid/great-grandkid on the Merry-Go-Round before any other rides. He also loved the ferris wheel and, of course, the festival food that was only offered at these events.
Taking community service very seriously, Charles would go above and beyond in any organization he belonged to. Some of the organizations most dear to him included MO State Grange, Blue Mound Grange, Rural Mail Carriers Association, NFO (National Farmer’s Organization), Polled Hereford Association, Walker 4-H, Harwood Ruritans, Mason’s (where he earned his 60th year pin), Gideons International, 54 Cruisers Car Club, The Bushwhacker Museum Board of Directors, Vernon County Genealogical & Historical Society where he helped survey and map Vernon County cemeteries, the Sons of the American Revolution, and many more.
Charles could build anything and loved to do so with every opportunity. His woodshop was always filled to the brim with possibilities. He built displays for the Bushwhacker Museum, a pergola for the Walker Senior Housing, a ramp for the Walker First Baptist Church, and many treasures that later generations will enjoy for years to come.
He also used these skills to restore his 41 Chevy Coupe, 1969 Ford Ranchero, 1926 Model T Ford Roadster, and an M1 A1 Willy Army Jeep to resemble the one that he drove with Chaplain Randles in Korea that was always a crowd favorite at every parade.
Charles gave his life to the Lord at the Harwood Baptist Church and was baptized in the creek and never looked back. He served God in everything that he did. His life was an example to his kids, his grandkids, his great-grandkids and anyone that had the privilege to speak with him. This gives the family a peace beyond understanding that Charles is now free from any earthly pains, and we can see him again one day if we follow the example he put before us.
Charles Eugene Foreman, Sr, of Walker, MO, leaves behind his three children; Charles Eugene Foreman, Jr (Vicki); Chester Lee Foreman (Marla); and Christine Graham. 11 Grandchildren; David Foreman (Betsy); Charity Lanning (Bob); Wendy Conley (Brandon); Joseph Graham (Angie); Katie Budd (Anthony); Wesley Charles Foreman (Bridget); Timothy Foreman (Alexandra); Regan Kluhsman (Ben); Corey Graham; Sarah Ireland; Matthew Holmes (Jessica). 24 Great Grandchildren; Coltin Wilson, Brooklyn Foreman, Brice Budd; Garrett Conley, Keeley Foreman, Carter Foreman, Isaiah Charles Graham, Gentry Budd, Mylah Graham, Brylan Fortman, Avery Neoma Foreman, Amelia Foreman, Bennett Foreman, Dawson Kluhsman, Dean Kluhsman, Layla Penrod, Zoey Penrod, Eliza Lanning, Sebastian Emerson, Brock Ireland, Greta Holmes, Milo Holmes, Henry Holmes and Ingrid Holmes. His niece Phyllis Garrison (Bob), and brother-in-law Frank Haynes, along with numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and loved ones who will miss hearing his stories and simply being in his presence.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Neoma Lee (Alexander) Foreman. A brother Russell Lee Foreman, both of his sisters Dora Jane Haynes and Alice Beaty. Sisters-in-law Juanita Foreman, Violet Overton and Annie Haynes; and brothers-in-law Dale Overton, Fred Haynes, and Joe Beaty. Along with his Uncle Roscoe Hamilton and Aunt Vinta Hamilton, whom he always spoke very highly of.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 10th at the First Baptist Church in Nevada, MO with burial in Green Lawn Cemetery, Schell City, MO. Donations can be made to Gideons International to continue Charles’ mission to spread the word of Jesus to everyone in c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.
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