Dr. Charles H. Parham

Dr. Charles H. Parham, 86, of Asheville, North Carolina, died Thursday, June 27, 2013, at Mission Memorial Hospital from complications of a stroke. His wife of 52 years, Lenore T. (Bennett), died in 2002. He is survived by a daughter, Dr. Sandra L. Peterson and her husband, Russell, of Seaford, Virginia; a daughter, Dr. Pamela J. Frankel and her husband, Brian, of Poway, California; and a son, Charles H. Parham III of Melbourne, Florida. He was predeceased by another son, L. Blake Parham. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Steven Burney, Bryan Parham, Douglas Peterson, William Peterson and Kevin Frankel; one great grandson, Atlas Parham Peterson; as well as one sister, Judy Dove. He was predeceased by his other sister, Phyllis Folsom. Charles (Chuck) Parham was born in the city of Homestead, Florida, July 15th, 1926, the son of Charles H. and Julia I. Parham. After graduating from Ponce de Leon High School in Coral Gables, Florida, in 1944 he joined the Navy in the Air Cadet program. After completing his Navy service he attended Pennsylvania College of Optometry, graduating in 1951. He and his bride, Lenore Bennett, were united in holy wedlock on December 28, 1949, and remained so until July 4th, 2002, when they were parted by divine providence after having renewed their wedding vows on December 28, 1999 after 50 years of life sharing experiences. Charles opened his first practice in Bartow, Florida, where he and his family lived until 1958. The family then relocated to Melbourne, and he practiced there until his retirement in 1990. He retired from Brevard Vision Care, the practice he and his wife founded. He was a life member of the American Optometric Association and the Florida Optometric Association. He was very active in the Melbourne community. He coached midget football, was a long time member of the Lions Club, and took many roles in the plays produced by Indian River Players, a local theater company. He became a member of the Masonic order in 1953, and a KCCH member of the Scottish Rite Masons. He loved Freemasonry and promoted the fraternity in every way that he could by participating in the lectures and helping new members. He and his wife, Lenore, whom he loved to distraction, retired to the Asheville area in 1990. Following retirement they enjoyed traveling extensively, both in their motor homes and overseas. Charles also became active in the Asheville local community, joining the Asheville Storytellers Circle. He wrote and performed many original stories with them. He was also a member of the Autumn Players, through which he shared his love of poetry by participating in recitations throughout the community. He was determined to learn Spanish as a second language, so he volunteered in a program to teach English as a second language to recent immigrants, and he met weekly with Asheville friends to practice. He was a member of the Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church, and served as Deacon for that organization. He treasured his membership in that church, and being a servant for the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he loved, and with whom he shared love for all those who came to know the Lord. Charles and Lenore lived in Mars Hill, NC, until her death in 2002. In 2006, he moved to Asheville. In 2004, he was blessed to find a loving and faithful companion in TK Story, with whom he spent many wonderful and delightful portions of the latter days of his life. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church, with the Rev. Tom Lomax and the Rev. Daniel Dockery officiating. Interment will follow at the Mars Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Merrimon Avenue Baptist Church, 283 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC 28801. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.