Evangelist, 20, Drowns in Lake Near Olney

June 21 – A young Olney evangelist drowned today while swimming with friends in Miller’s Lake, three miles southeast of here.

The victim was Charles McGhee, 20, who has preached in evangelism meetings in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The drowning was about 4 p.m. McGhee, described as a “very poor” swimmer, suddenly grabbed at a companion, Robert Vail, 21, and then sank into the water.

Vail told authorities later that he dived immediately and grabbed McGhee, but that his grip slipped and he had to come up for air. Vail then dived again he said, but failed to find his friend’s body.

Police were notified and an Olney fire department rescue squad came to the scene, recovered the body in about 15 feet of water and applied artificial respiration in vain.

McGhee and Vail had been on a platform out in the lake with Lavern Bratton, 20 and Mrs. Margaret Miller.

Most of the time in the water, McGhee held onto steel pilings which support the platform. His body was in the water about 20 minutes before it was recovered.

At an inquest at the scene, a jury under Deputy Coroner, Robert Schaub of Richland County, ruled that the death was from accidental drowning.

McGhee has been employed at the Olney Paint and Wallpaper Store.

He leaves his wife, Barbara, to whom he was married only last January; his father, who lives in St. Louis and a sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Stout, Olney.

The body is in the Schaub Funeral Home, Olney.

The Decatur Herald (Decatur, IL) – Friday, June 22, 1956

One of Olney's finest young men, Charles "Chuck" McGhee, age 20, was the victim of a drowning accident at Miller Lake, around 4 p.m. on June 21, 1956, with three companions, Robert Vail, Lavern Bratton, & Mrs. Margaret Miller, all of Olney.

Charles was born November 19, 1935 in Arkansas the son of Gerald and Mary Bee (Garrett) McGhee.

McGhee was well known throughout the area as a promising young evangelist. He had conducted evangelistic campaigns in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, and had been conducting similar programs on behalf of the Billy Graham campaign in this area recently, showing films and preaching at several area churches.

He attended Fort Wayne Bible School for two years, returning to Olney last December. He had been employed at Crackel's Applicances, and more recently at the Olney Paint and Wallpaper Store, and was planning to return to Bible School in the fall to complete his training for the ministry.

McGhee was married just last January. His wife, who survives, is the former Barbara Jean Osborn of Olney. He also leaves his father, Gerald, who lives in St. Louis, a sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Stout of Olney and an aunt, Mrs. Ann Smith of Olney.

Funeral services were held at the chapel of the Schaub Funeral Home with Rev. Donald Grollimund in charge, assisted by Rev. Paul W. Ragsdale.

The funeral party will then proceed to Cairo, Illinois, where services will be held in the Wabash Avenue Baptist Church there.

Burial in the Wickliffe Cemetery at Wickliffe, Ky.

Published in Olney Daily News  - June 22, 1956