Charles Harold Elkins
November 11, 1935 ~ November 16, 2019
Charles Harold Elkins, 84, of Brown County, passed away at 10:25 a.m. on November 16, 2019, at his home.
He was born July 11, 1935, in Columbus, the son of Harold and Amy Reeves Elkins. Charles married Nancy Ann Halsey February 11, 1984, and together they enjoyed 36 years of marriage.
He was retired from Burnside, Incorporated and Cummins Engine Company (Tech Center).
The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home with Dale Lucas officiating. A time of visitation will be from noon until time of service Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Garland Brook Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Brown County Humane Society in memory of Charles.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Kenneth Reeves and James Elkins and two sisters, Pauline Penrose and Thelma (Peg) Gourley; and an infant grandchild, Melissa Sue.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; a son, Mark Elkins of Brown County and three daughters, Sherry Elkins of Brown County, Amy (Greg) Fowler of Columbus, and Andrea (Matt) Wolff of Atlanta Georgia. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great- grandsons.
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AECOM Hunt Construction-The Los Angeles Team purchased the Beautiful in Blue for the family of Charles Harold Elkins.
After his father, Dig Elkins, died, Charley picked up the job of being the bread winner, which left him little time for school, but he persevered and did well. He and my late brother, Jim, were good friends, so whenever Charley came to AZ, he made sure to see Jim. About 10 years ago I drove the two of them up to a little town called Oatman and I have the photos on computer should anyone wish to see them. Charley was a good person and he will be missed. May God bless us all.
I would love to see those photos. I am sure all my family would as well.
I had the privilege of working with Charlie at Cummins on a military engine program. He was a hardworking talented mechanic. He was one of the most ‘down to earth persons’ I ever met. I really enjoyed getting to know him.
Thank you. He was a good man.
Amy, I’m so very sorry for you and your family’s loss of what appears to be a very good man and dad. My heart breaks for you and pray God’s goodness is poured over each of your as you walk through these tough days, learning how to keep your head high and live on with the great memories you have of him. Love and hugs my friend. Joyce Matthews
Lit a candle in memory of Charles Harold Elkins
Charley was a good friend and co-worker to all at Cummins Tech Center. Always had a smile and great sense of humor.
Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum was purchased for the family of Charles Harold Elkins.
Sherry, Amy and Mark, I’m so sorry to hear about Charlie’s passing. I remember Charlie as being so soft spoken. He would always tease me about my red hair. That’s something we had in common. Sending prayers for comfort. It is so hard when you lose your parent.
Nancy and Andrea,
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for strength and peace in the days ahead.
Charlie Elkins was a really quiet but really helpful guy. I hired into Cummins in 1992 and Charlie was instrumental in extending the hand of friendship and acceptance to the Skilled Trades ranks at CTC. He saw allot of the Senior guys being standoffish and a bit cool towards us new guys, and he spanned the gap and gave us all a fair shake.
He had a great capacity for mischief and he never missed an opportunity to turn a prank into a bonding moment. He was a very very dear friend. He will be sorely missed from here on, but he will always be very much alive in my heart. I can still hear his soft spoken voice, telling me a joke or some much needed wisdom.
His circle of friends at Cummins is varied and wide. He told me many things during our friendship, and one of the stories he told turned out that he was one of the concrete guys who brought the considerable amount of concrete that built a building I came to own, many years later. He was a genuine character who had a TON of life experiences and if you were lucky enough to spend time around him, you couldn’t help but learn from him.
He got a pickup truck from a nephew one time, that needed an engine, and he asked me if I could repower it for him, but he wanted a bigger more powerful engine, I did the work and got the truck running very well, so well, in fact, that the transmission wouldn’t hold up for much more than 30 or 40 thousand miles. The second time I rebuilt the transmission for him, I asked him if he was taking it easy on the shifts,,, because the clutches looked like they had been overheated,,,, He just smiled and said; “Most of the time”….
I helped him sort out an old bulldozer he bought and brought back to life. I did the dressing of the points and condenser in the pony motor’s distributor. He told me that when he finally started that pony motor, he kept hearing something strange, out behind the Dozer. He finally walked around to look, and realized that the winch was engaged, and the cable was up over the gas tank and hooked to the rollcage, and the cable was pulling a dent in the tank. He said he figured that must be a really deep reduction gear drive on that winch…. Then there was that trademark smirk again.
I am deeply saddened to hear that he has left this mortal coil, but I will keep his smile, and his mischievious disposition and his true friendship as gifts that can never be taken away. Go rest high on that mountain Brother!
Your faithful friend,,, Patrick Black
Thank you so very much for your comments. You have described Dad perfectly.
Thank you for these stories. My aunt was correct, perfect description of my grandpa.
Pat You Made DAD a Hot Rodder with that Dakota
He would not let anyone pass him if they tail gated him .
LOL: (lots of love) Mark
He’d say “Pepsi Cola, Ginger Ale… I got A-Mander by the tail— and I think I’ll pulllll..” (wink)
Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum was purchased for the family of Charles Harold Elkins.
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Nancy and family, I am unable to come tomorrow, but I wanted you to know I’m so sorry for your loss. You’re in our thoughts and prayers. Nancy and Bob Woodruff
So sorry to hear Charlie has passed. Charlie and Wally were two great people that worked at CTC. They both were good at their jobs and very helpful if you wanted to try and learn. Will always remember the smile Charlie had on his face. My pleasure to have known him. Kate Freese
Thank you for your comments and sharing your memories of my dad.
Amy (Elkins) Fowler
Peaceful White Lilies Basket was purchased for the family of Charles Harold Elkins.