Charles william Spear

Charles William Spear, 77, of Benton Harbor, passed away on Sunday May 23, 2004 at Silverbrook Manor, Niles, Michigan. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2:00pm, at Kerley&Starks-Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 26, from 2:30-4:00pm, and 6:00-8:00pm, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service or to the Alzheimer Association. Friends wishing to leave a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Born May 26, 1926, Charles Spear was the youngest son of Carl and Susan (Kowalski) Spear. He was a star athlete at St. Joseph Catholic High School in St. Joseph. After graduation, he proudly served in the Army on the front lines in Europe during WWII. When the war was over, he married his high school sweetheart, Ann Zajac. In 1960s, they became the proud parents of daughter Cynthia. Chuck and his brother Laverne took charge of the family grocery, Spears? Food Service, which became a major wholesale restaurant supplier for southwest Michigan. A few years after selling the store in 1975, Chuck and Ann went back into business on a smaller scale. They purchased Tudor Wholesale Meats to put their daughter through college. Several years after the loss of his beloved wife, Chuck was fortunate enough to find love again with Corolyn Latham. Loving husband, devoted father, dedicated businessman, and avid golfer, Charles Spear will be sorely missed. He is survived by his wife, Corolyn Latham; a daughter, Cynthia (Dr. John) Brantley of Freeville, NY; and a sister, Florence Burke of Bridgman, MI, and also by a large extended family. Charles is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Ann, two brothers-Laverne and Julius, and a sister-Louella.