Charles Grover Obermiller was born July 29, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri and five weeks later was adopted by Dr. Ralph Gunther and Martha Myra (Messimer) Obermiller and passed away Thursday, October 4, 2018 at the Fairview Fellowship Home in Fairview, Oklahoma.

Chuck was named after his grandfathers, Henry Grover Obermiller and Charles Henry Messimer. He grew up in Woodward Oklahoma where his father was chief of staff at the Woodward Hospital. While in school he worked with livestock, played some football, and worked on the family farm. Chuck was no stranger to hard work. In the fall of 1950 he joined the Woodward FFA and started showing sheep and graduated high school in 1954 as an Oklahoma State Farmer. After high school graduation from Woodward High School, Chuck attended college at Oklahoma A & M now known as OSU in Stillwater and Panhandle A& M now known as PSU at Goodwell, Oklahoma. He was on the PSU livestock judging teams for his junior and senior years. He also worked at the sheep and turkey livestock barns, raising sheep and turkeys. He also found a love for entertaining people and protecting riders when he became a Rodeo Clown at college.

While at PSU he met Betty Moore and they were married on June 9, 1957. After their marriage the couple lived on a farm in Woodward County where he farmed and ranched for a few years. Chuck needed to change occupations and became interested in the Funeral Profession after the deaths and funerals of both his grandfather, and a close classmate. Chuck started his long and active career as a Funeral Professional in January of 1961 when he went to work at Brian Mason Funeral Home in Woodward, OK. Shortly after starting there Chuck and Betty had their first daughter, Charla Dawn. Chuck then attended Gupton-Jones Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas from August of 1963 to August of 1964. While in mortuary school he taught first aid classes to nursing students at Baylor University. After returning to Oklahoma he worked for Hahn-Cook Funeral Home in Oklahoma City from September 1964 to February 1965. Betty had returned to Woodward and they had their second daughter Chanin Carol.

Chuck and his growing family then moved to Hominy Oklahoma where he worked for Powell Funeral Home from March 1, 1965 to June 1, 1971. The family was very involved with the Methodist Church. Chuck served as treasurer and taught the senior high youth group. He also served as President of the Methodist Men's group and was a member of the Junior Chamber serving in all offices.

In June of 1971, Chuck and Betty purchased the funeral home in Fairview, Oklahoma and moved there the same month. After settling into their new home and business Chuck became very involved in the community. He belonged to many organizations including the Fairview Morning Lions Club where he served in all the offices; Fairview Chamber of Commerce; he was Major County Civil Defense Director for 15 years, organized the county into one of the first storm watching groups in the state. Chuck also owned and operated the Fairview Ambulance Service until February of 1978. He helped Major County become the seventh county in the state to become an EMS district. Chuck was among the first group to be licensed as an EMT, passing both his state and national certifications in 1972. He taught many first aid classes at other local fire departments and also community classes for anyone interested in attending. Because of his experience, Chuck served as part of the OFDA Disaster team and was put into action for the first time following the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Chuck worked as team leader for 11 days and was the only team leader that had two funeral service students assigned, Jeremy Sparks and Robert High. He served as District III chairman on two different occasions, first in the early 80s and the second from 1995 to 1996.Over his distinguished 40 year career as a funeral director, Chuck served many families. Each and every one of them was treated with dignity and respect. Professionalism was the corner stone of his career.He constantly demonstrated great levels of caring and compassion. These were not simply clients that he was serving but they were also his friends.

Chuck worked the Major Co. Fair and Spring Live Stock shows from 1971 to 2010 and was Sheep Superintendent for 15 years from 1995 to 2010. In the spring of 1972, Chuck and Betty started the tradition of Showmanship Trophies and continued this for many years. Both of Chuck's daughters showed sheep from 1972 until 1983. While working with the sheep shows, He did everything from blocking, weighting, teething, and keeping the shows running smoothly. In 1984 he was an Honorary State Farmer. In 1995, Don Elwell retired as Sheep Superintendent and Chuck was asked to replace him. Later Jack Kelly joined Chuck and they served as co-superintendent until Chuck retired in 2010.

Chuck was a volunteer fire fighter for Fairview for 20 years and retired as Assistant Chief. He fought many fires over the 20 years he served and could tell you many stories. Remember, he became a Rodeo Clown at college… well, Chuck once again started clowning, this time with Mike McMurphy, during rodeo parades and during the chili and stew supper for the Fire Department's annual fund raiser. He had many different routines-like driving a clown car or riding a mule and of course kissing the girls. However, the one most people will remember is when he played big mamma and Mike was his baby.

Chuck is survived by his wife of 61 years Betty, one daughter Chanin Carol (Obermiller) Hoehn and husband Vernon, his grandchildren; Cassidy and Derek Ratzlaff, Chandra and Trent Zozula, and Chancy Charles and Shyann Hoehn and great grandchildren; Kirstyn, Wyatt, and Lilly Ratzlaff, Jayci Vickman, David and Jimmy Zozula, and Jaxen Charles Hoehn. He is also survived by family of the heart, Twila Daughtery and husband Shawn Ubersox, and Dean Daughtery, and Nephews Mark and wife Kristi and children, Garrett and Ashlyn, and David and wife Billi Obermiller and niece Lauren and Rodney Myers.

Preceding Chuck were his parents, one sister, Ione Owens in 1963, one brother Ralph Gunther Obermiller Jr. in 1993 and his daughter Charla Myers in 2013.