Charles Lewallen

Charles Lewallen was born Aug. 24, 1947, in Wilson, the fifth of eight children to Vergil and Oma Dee (Stanley) Lewallen. He departed this life Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, at Fairview. Charles always said of his childhood that they always had what they needed; maybe not everything they wanted, but always had what they needed.

They were a big happy family that loved doing things together, but he also learned the value of hard work.

He later would raise his family in similar fashion.

He grew up loving the outdoors - hunting, fishing, raising coon dogs, raising and showing pigs and, of course, playing basketball.

Charles spent most of his childhood in Elk City where he graduated high school.

He went to Oklahoma Panhandle State University on a basketball scholarship.

While attending OPSU, he met his love Jeannie Gibson, and they were married March 21, 1970.

He played basketball at OPSU for three-and-a-half years and then in January 1971, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving for two years in Germany as a Hawk missile fire controlman during the Vietnam War.

During this time, Charles and Jeannie had two daughters: Brandi in January 1971 and Heather in June 1973.

After being discharged, Charles went back to OPSU as a student assistant men’s basketball coach and finished his education degree, graduating in May 1974.

Charles began his 32-year teaching and coaching career in Buffalo, where he taught and coached for seven years, winning the Class A state basketball title in 1980.

That same year, son Kevin was born in February, right before the state tournament.

He then taught and coached at Lomega High school for the next 18 years, having many successful teams and players.

All three of his children graduated from Lomega High School.

Before retiring by Canton Lake, Charles coached at Canton High School for seven years.

Over the course of his 32 years he accrued over 600 wins and passionately taught his players, along with his three children, the fundamentals of basketball and many life lessons.

He loved coaching the game of basketball and touched many lives over those 32 years.

Fishing and hunting were always things he loved to do with Jeannie and family right alongside of him much of the time.

He loved teaching and enjoying these activities with his grandkids throughout the years.

Later in life, Charles accepted Jesus and was a baptized believer and member of the Longdale First Baptist Church.

Charles and Jeannie recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in March 2020.

During his retirement years, you could find him, along with his wife Jeannie, at the lake or following their grandkids around to all their activities.

He loved family get-togethers at their house near the lake.

His family and grandkids were his pride and joy. He would do anything for them and they had many great adventures making many wonderful memories.

Although, as far as we think, our time with him here was not done, we have to trust that God knows what we do not understand and why it was his time to leave us.

We love him so much and will miss him dearly.

Charles is survived by his wife Jeannie Lewallen of Longdale; daughter Brandi Nyberg and husband Brandon of Selling and their children Bowan, Brevin, Brya and Braci Nyberg; daughter Heather Davis and husband Brent of Clinton and their children Tanner and Kambree Davis; son Kevin Lewallen and wife Sara of Omega and their sons Laken and Ledger Lewallen; his mother Oma Dee Lewallen of Elk City; four brothers, Gene Lewallen of Longdale, Johnny Lewallen of Elk City, Terry Lewallen of Wheeler, Texas, and Randy Lewallen, who lives near Foss Lake.

Charles was preceded in death by his father Vergil Lewallen; sisters Carolyn Eggleston, JoAnn Berry and Yuvonne Wilson; and his granddaughter Lanie Lewallen.

Graveside services were Thursday, Jan. 14, at Ames Cemetery with Larry Miller officiating.

Memorials may be made to Lifeshare of Oklahoma with Pierce Funeral Home serving as custodian at P.O. Box 15, Fairview, OK, 73737.

Condolences may be made online at www.piercefuneralhomes.com.