Charles (Chuck) Wayne Lindsay, age 84, of Oakley, Kansas, passed away at his home surrounded by family on January 28, 2019. Chuck was born in Garnett, Kansas on August 4, 1934 to Claude and Dott (Slinkard) Lindsay.
Chuck attended school until the 10th grade and then went to work in the oilfields with his Dad, Uncle Harold and brothers. In 1957 Chuck’s first son Mitch was born from his first marriage. Shortly after Chuck served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed overseas in Germany as a tanker until 1959. Upon discharge from the Army he returned to work in the oilfields as a driller. Chuck traveled to Oakley to drill an oil well, stopping in at the Little Café to eat meals. It was at the Little Café that he met Eunice Vavricka who was working as a waitress.
After a short 6 or 7 week courtship they were united in marriage on October 7, 1960. Son Rusty was born in 1961. Chuck continued working in the oilfields throughout Kansas and Nebraska, until 1962 when he moved his family back to Oakley and started working for the city of Oakley. Daughter Susan (Susie) was born in 1963. Chuck later worked for Olin Kannady and then in July 1967 he went to work for the Oakley School District as a maintenance supervisor. Daughter Terri was born in 1967. While working at the school he also started and worked at his home-based business Lindsay Upholstery. In 1996 he retired from the school district after 30 years of service.
Chuck always had a love for building. He built the home where he raised his family and resided for 56 years. He built a cabin at Cedar Bluff Lake where the family went for weekends to enjoy boating, skiing, fishing and hunting. Many summer vacations were spent in Garnett helping his parents with building projects and hunting or fishing with his brothers. Chuck had a love for history and took his kids on many trips to historic places. His grandchildren loved to hear his stories about the “good ole days.” After his retirement he continued his upholstery business at a smaller level as he developed a desire to restore old buggies, pedal cars and tractors. He re-built two buggies, one for each of his two daughter’s weddings.
Chuck had a love for horses, keeping several in his pasture south of town, which worked out wonderfully to pull his restored buggies. After he could no longer harness his horses, he decided to build a horseless carriage. He also rebuilt a cable tool rig originally from the Pittsburg, Kansas area used for mining. Chuck was a member of the United Christian Church, Lions Club and a scout leader while son Rusty was in scouts. Chuck was also active in the 7th Calvary Re-enactment Group. He built a Civil War style ambulance for the group. He also made a brief appearance in the Re-enactment’s docu-drama Thorf’s Dragon.
Chuck was proceeded in death by his parents; two brothers: George and Emmett; brother-in-law, Warren Park; 2 sisters-in-law: Mae Hullet and Candy Jo Beckner; 4 nephews: Vaughn Tomlinson, Chuck Hartpence, Jerry Lindsay and Steve Phillips; great niece, Lezlie Gean; and furry companion, Tootsie.
He is survived by wife Eunice, the love of his life; sons: Mitch (Nancy) Powell of Halstead and Rusty (Pam) Lindsay of Hays; daughters: Susan (Jerry) Glassman of Oakley and Terri (Dan) Hutton of Scott City. 10 grandchildren: Megan (Shane) Stephenson, Bradley (Audra) Lindsay, Michael (Nika) Lindsay, Kyle Glassman, Shaylyn (Eric) Rucker, Wyatt Glassman, Danielle (Nathan) York, Briana Hutton, Grace Hutton and Callie Hutton; 6 great grandchildren: Aidan Stephenson, Connor Stephenson, Bella Lindsay, Zachary Lindsay, Maddox Lindsay and Lexis Glassman; 4 sisters-in-law: Betty (Jerry) Ranes, Dixie Lindsay, Cherry (Clair) Law and Cora Lee (Ken) Walker; 4 brothers-in-law: Kelvin Hullet, Robert Lynn (Pat) Vavricka, Pat (Rita) Vavricka and Lee (Shelly) Beckner; his faithful dog, Trixie; and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Services will be at The United Christian Church, located at the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center, (Date and Time to be Determined) 3083 US 83, Oakley, KS, with Pastor Bob Kelly officiating. Interment will follow in the Oakley Cemetery. Visitation will be from (Date / Time To be Determined) at the Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, 217 Freeman Avenue, Oakley, KS 67748. Memorials may be given to the Chuck Lindsay memorial fund and sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, 67748.