Charles Eley

Charles Dennis ?Chuck? Eley, 65, died at 1:55 p.m. Aug. 12, 2009, at The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus. He was born Dec. 13, 1943, in Lima to Wilbur W. ?Red? and Catherine Corsaro Eley, who preceded him in death. Mr. Eley attended school in Bowling Green through his ninth-grade year and graduated in 1962 from Lima Senior High School, where he played football and ran track. He retired from the Lima Fire Department after a distinguished career. He was a truck driver for several years for Mountaineer Chemical, Powell. He served the community as a driver for the Allen County Council on Aging and Family Promise and delivered flowers for Yazel?s Flower Shop. He was liked by all for his humor and great personality. He loved his family dearly as well as his family of friends, fellow firefighter retirees and members of his Lima Harley Owners Group Harley Davidson Riding Club. He was also a member of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club. He was USA all the way, serving in the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He loved to travel and visit his beloved Italian cousins, family and friends throughout America. He rode his Harley to the 105th Harley Davidson Anniversary in Milwaukee in 2008, with the assistance of the Harley group he loved. Having a successful kidney transplant from his dear nephew, Brian, he and the family were huge supporters of organ donation. Survivors include two sisters, Linda (Rick) Hackworth, of Lima, and Carole A. Haines, of Columbus Grove; a brother, Glen D. (Elizabeth) Eley, of Lima; nine nieces and nephews, Melissa (Mark) Sigrist, of Upper Arlington, Stephen (Chris) Beard, of Dublin, Corey (Chantal) Beard, of Ottawa, Canada, Barry Haines, of Spencerville, Brian (Stacie) Haines and Brent (Cindy) Haines, both of Columbus Grove, Michael Meyer, of Oceanside, Calif., Rachel (Deane) Eastwood, of Melrose, Mass., and Nathaniel (Lila) Meyer, of San Francisco; a special friend, Barb Watkins; and 18 great-nieces and -nephews, Sara (Andrew) Ramsey, Stephanie (Justin) Gallo, Stephen (Tracey) Beard, Alex Sigrist, Adam Sigrist, Emily Sigrist, Aymeric Beard, Gregory Beard, Meredith Beard, Taylor Haines, Trevor Haines, Logan Haines, Raegan Haines, Morgan Haines, Tyler Kohls, Ali Kohls, Morgan Kohls and Oliver Haines. He was preceded in death by his stepmother, Vincenth Hall-Eley; a nephew, Alan J. Beard; and a brother-in-law, Clifford ?Buck? Haines. Services will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home, with military rites by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275. Father David Ross and the Rev. John Eley will officiate. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home, where a Firefighters Honor Guard Service will be held at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Lima Firefighters 334 Memorial. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.