Charles Shrum

Charles Dykes Shrum, 81, of Blytheville, Ark., passed away Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock.

He was born June 30, 1927, in Lixville, Mo., son of Clarence E. and Florence S. Myers Shrum. He and Virginia Fellows were married Feb. 28, 1948.

Charles graduated from Perryville High School in 1945, served in the Navy from 1945 to 1946 and attended welding school in St. Louis.

He was employed by Carter Carburetor in St. Louis 30 years, retiring in 1977. In 1978 they moved to Blytheville, returning to work as a machinist industrial engineer 10 years with Borg-Warner. Beginning in 1987, he worked as a traveling machinist consultant. His hobbies were drawing, hunting and fishing.

Loving survivors include his wife of 60 years; a son, Kevin Shrum of San Antonio; a daughter, Deborah (David) Cartwright of St. Charles, Mo.; a brother, Leroy Dykes of Erick, Okla.; three grandchildren, Brian Hawkins, Don Cartwright and Matthew Cartwright; and a great-grandson, Leo Cartwright.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Donald Blaylock officiating. Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson with full military honors.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.