Funeral Services for Charles Ernest Parkins, 78, of Longdale, Oklahoma will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Cedar Springs Church of the Nazarene.  Reverend Levi Bratten will officiate the services.  Burial will follow in the Fairview, Cemetery.  Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home, Inc.,

Charles Parkins was born August 11, 1945 to Albert Parkins and Rena (Parker) Parkins and passed from this life on May 6, 2024 at his home west of Fairview.

Charles attended Cheyenne Valley School, graduating in 1963 as the valedictorian of his class.  He then attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1967.  He married Loretta Martin on September 1, 1967 at Cedar Springs Church.  After their marriage Charles was drafted into the United States Army.  His first assignment was Fort Polk, Louisianna.  He then was stationed in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  After that, he served in Thailand as a Specialist, 5th class.  He was honorably discharged in 1969.   Charles worked for Marten Brothers House Moving, a local pig farm, Ewbanks Drilling and Phillips 66 most of his life, along with being a rancher, raising cattle and horses. He was a true cowboy at heart, he broke is own colts and gathered cattle for people.  He also enjoyed hunting for arrow heads and rattlesnakes near Cheyenne Valley.  Charles loved taking his family on vacations, camping in the mountains almost every summer.  He offficially retired from DCP (Phillips 66) in 2013. Charles and Loretta celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2017.

Charles was a member of the Cedar Springs Church of the Nazarene, American Legion, and he was a Lifetime member of the Fairview Wranglers.

Charles is survived by his wife Loretta of Fairview; three daughters, Christy and husband Davis Webb, Brenda and husband Sam Waggoner, Kara and husband Perry Rackley; one sister, Linda and husband Clarence Cravens.  He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Shane and fiancee Kalli, Brock, Taylor, Devon, Allen, Abigail, Jaris, Kyler, Wyatt, Nathan and wife Mariah and Nolan and wife Makenzie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother Rick Parkins, one sister Charolette Kooken and one grandson Keaton Rackley.

He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend.  He is loved and will be missed by all.