Charles ‘Gene’ Syler Jr.
Charles Eugene “Gene” Syler Jr., 84, of Vandalia died Saturday, April 13, 2019 at Tri-County Care Center in Vandalia.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday at Southside Baptist Church of Vandalia. Pastor Mark Phelps will officiate along with Bro. Kenny Haddock. Graveside with full military honors provided by the American Legion Post 510 of Laddonia will follow the funeral at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday at Waters Funeral Home.
Charles was born July 21, 1934, in Bowling Green, the son of Charles Eugene Sr. and Jessie Mae Spears Syler. He was united in marriage to Anna Lorene Clark of Vandalia. She survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Deborah Ann Salois and husband, Joe of Curryville, and Lisa Lorene McCallister and Lynn of Little Rock, Ark.; four grandchildren, Jeffery Salois and wife, Gina of Louisiana, Matthew Salois of Kansas City, Kan., Charles T. West of Jacksonville, Ark., and Joshua West of Benton, Ark.; niece, Tammy Enfinger; nephew, Philip Hyre and lots of other loved family and friends.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Syler was preceded in death by a sister, Charlyne Hyre.
Charles attended school in Bowling Green, MO before joining the United States Air Force in October of 1952. He proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict.
Charles worked various jobs in Bowling Green and Vandalia area. He retired in 1996 from the Van-Far R-1 school district. He was an ordained deacon at Southside Baptist Church of Vandalia where he taught adult Sunday School for many years. Charles had a passion for music especially southern gospel, bluegrass and country. He loved playing his guitar and played in a band named the fender-benders. He loved watching Nascar with other church members on Sunday afternoons. Charles was a huge support of the military especially the United States Air Force.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Southside Baptist Church of Vandalia or SSM Home Health of Mexico, MO in the care of Waters Funeral Home 500 S. Main St. P.O. Box 84 Vandalia, MO 63382.
