Charles Whitehead

Charles Eugene Whitehead, 85, Seneca, MO passed away at 10:00 AM, Monday, April 16, 2012 at his home surrounded by his loving family.      Charles was born March 30, 1927 in Baxter Springs, KS.  He was the son of Melvin Eugene and Opal (Hendry) Whitehead.  Charles lived in Seneca for most of his life.  Charles was a WWII Merchant Marines Veteran.  He was a school teacher at Thompson Grove and May.  He worked for the former Vickers plant in Joplin and served as President of the Union.  Charles and Eunice owned and operated the Whitehead Real Estate and Insurance Agency in Seneca for 20 years.  They opened the Tee Pee Restaurant in Seneca and ran it for 25 years.  His “retirement project” was the Tee Pee Mobile Home Park North of Seneca which he operated until his death.  He was a Baptist minister for over 50 years, serving at Hart, Sweet Water, North Miami, Swars Prairie, and Racine Baptist Churches.  He was a member of Swars Prairie Baptist church and in his final months had found great joy in attending his Bible study group at Racine Christian Church (the Hill Toppers).   Charles Eugene Whitehead married Eunice Maxine Dobbs on August 5, 1944 in Columbus, KS.  She preceded him in death on April 30, 2010.    Survivors include two sons, Rickey Eugene Whitehead and his wife Jackie, Nickey Ivan Whitehead and his wife Sandra all of Seneca; one daughter, Dr Mickie Lee Shank and husband Michael of Mexico, MO; three brothers, Clifford Whitehead of Neosho, Clyde Whitehead and Clinton Whitehead, both of Seneca; two sisters, Jean Nally and Pam Brown of Seneca.  He has 7 living grandchildren, Candy Whitehead, Dusty Whitehead, Brenda Nelson, Leslie Williams, Rachel Whitehead, Megan Pollema, and Nicki Mae Whitehead; 8 great grandchildren, Colby Nelson, Jace Nelson, Benjamin Whitehead, Owen Harris, Dylan Williams, Austin Williams, Micah and Matthew Whitehead; and many step grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.     Charles was preceded in death by his father Melvin Whitehead; mother Opal Whitehead; one grandson, Matthew Charles Harris; three brothers, Clarence Whitehead, Claude Whitehead, and Chester Whitehead; and three sisters, Juanita Grant, Helen Vinson, and Janice Ferris.      Funeral services under the direction of Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home, will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, April 19, 2012 at Swars Prairie Baptist Church with Kirk Roelfsema, associate minister of Racine Christian Church officiating.  Burial will be in the Swars Prairie Baptist Cemetary with grandson, Dusty Whitehead and nephews, John Whitehead, Mac Whitehead, Jared Whitehead, Earl Vinson, Curtis Belt, Danny Whitehead and Dennis Whitehead serving as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Dale McIntire, Gary Nally, Rex Lankford, Warren Scritchfield, and Claude Brown.    The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM, Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at the Swars Prairie Baptist Church.    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home in care of Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home, PO Box 380, Seneca, MO, 64865.