Charles Edwin Beal, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and dedicated member of the Christian Church of Olney, passed away peacefully at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital on March 5, 2024, at the age of 86.

Born on October 19, 1937, in Clay County, Illinois, to Ralph E. Beal and Nyda R. Wood, Charles spent his early life in Clay County Illinois, following in the footsteps of his father Ralph, his grandfather Isaac, and all of the Beals before him starting with Jacob who migrated to Clay County in 1852.

On April 24, 1954, Charles was married to Margaret Calvert, his loving wife of 69 years, and they together built a life in Olney filled with love nurtured in faith, and raised two sons.

During his adult life, Charles worked at Beal Skating Rink and was the owner and operator of Beal Mobile Homes and the Holiday Mobile Home Village. Charles liked to brag on his kids, grandkids and great grandkids, watch Westerns, dabble in the stock market and keep his pulse on the issues of the day affecting his community and nation. Charles loved to watch the thoroughbreds run and during his life owned many horses that won in the major tracks in St. Louis, Chicago and Henderson, Ky.

Charles’ real passion lay in reading and studying the word of God. Charles was a lay preacher, lifelong Sunday School teacher and spiritual mentor to many. Charles and Margaret served in the Christian Church of Olney for 45 years and viewed the establishment and nourishment of the Church as their most important endeavor. Charles’ dedication and commitment to the church community was an inspiration to many.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Nyda, brother John and his half-brother Michael. Charles will be dearly missed by his wife Margaret; sons, Douglas (Debbie) Beal of Columbia, MO and Matt (Lynne) Beal of Beverly Hills, FL; grandchildren Amber (Jon) Klaas of Columbia, MO, Shawn (Liz) Beal of Columbia, MO, and Stephanie (Dominick) Lee also of Columbia, MO; his great-grandchildren Emma, Isabelle, Annie and Frank Klaas; Zoe, Chloe, and Jolie Beal; and Lola Lee; half-brothers Tony (Judy) Beal and Timothy Beal of Olney, sister-in-law Marie Beal of Olney; and step-brothers Jerry (Vela) Coldren of Chelsea, OK and Denny (Sharon) Coldren of Collinsville, OK, along with many nieces and nephews and countless friends and fellow church members.

Charles’ memory will forever be cherished for his commitment, devotion and faithfulness to his wife, family and Church and his unwavering faith that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God in whose arms Charles now rests.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Christian Church of Olney. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on April 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Christian Church of Olney, 400 Sam St.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home, Olney, IL