Winfiel, Charles A. February 25, 1935 - April 27, 2025

Charles Albert Winfiel received his eternal reward Sunday, April 27, 2025 at
the age of 90 years, two months and 2 days. He died peacefully at home,
holding hands with Edith, his wife of 67 years. He was born February 25,
1935, on a farm near Bolivar in Polk County, Missouri. His parents were
Howard Winfiel and Helen (Squier) Winfiel. He grew up milking cows on the
farm. As the oldest of four children he assumed a leadership role at an
early age because his Dad was often away preaching the Word. His
brothers and sister have stories of Charles’ efforts to keep them in line.
There is a photo of the boys standing like stair steps and Charles has
reached behind Johnny to pull on Dean’s ear to get him to face the camera.
And the time he was frustrated that Johnny would not polish his shoes, so
Charles polished one of them. And Carol surely suffered PTSD when he
taught her to drive. But they all recall with joy the fun times they had with
their neighbors, cousins, and their pony, Junior.
Charles was saved during a revival held by Abe Waggoner at Elkton
Missionary Baptist Church in 1949. He was baptized and joined Salem
Missionary Baptist Church where his family attended. After Charles
graduated from Fair Play High School in 1953, he attended Southwest
Missouri State University for a year and worked as a machinist for
Carnahan Fence Company before moving to Kansas City to work as a
machinist. While in Kansas City, he began attending church at Good Hope
Baptist Church and eventually moved his membership to Good Hope where
he enjoyed spiritual growth and fellowship. He liked to recount stories of the
construction of the building for the church as the members donated the
materials and did the labor. After their marriage, Edith moved her
membership to Good Hope, and they attended regularly. He served many
years as the church Treasurer and Song Leader. He was ordained as a
Deacon, January 31 st , 1965 along with Lowell Farmer, Deacon and Dale
Beaty, Minister.
In 1957 he went back to SMS to study and joined ROTC. In 1960 he
earned a BS degree in Education and entered the Army as a 2 nd Lt. where
he served six months of Active Duty and then went into the Reserves as a
Captain. He led the Kansas City Reserve Unit where he prepared new
recruits for boot camp, conducting training to help them achieve higher rank
more quickly.

In December of 1958, he married Edith Long at the Wheatland Baptist
Church. In 1960, Charlene was born and 18 months later, in 1962, John
was born. The family lived in the Hickman Mills suburb of Kansas City and
Charles taught Math at Ruskin High School for 6 years. He had a love of
teaching and spent the rest of his life teaching others in some way. There
arose some conflict when Charles refused to give the daughter of a school
board member a passing grade that she did not earn. It was then that he
decided to pursue a career that would “better support his family.” He went
to work for Smith Corona, selling photocopy machines. He suffered the
lows and enjoyed the heights that came with the Sales Profession.
At some point, he took the Dale Carnegie Course in Effective Speaking and
Human Relations. The 14-week course changed his life. He discovered a
new self confidence that had been missing and developed a hunger for
personal growth. He went on to take the Dale Carnegie Sales Course and
volunteered many times as a Graduate Assistant for both courses. Years
later, in 1984, he would help to organize the Course in El Dorado Springs.
He was not a big reader, but he avidly collected self-improvement and
inspirational books for the rest of his life.

In January of 1972, Charles’ Dad called to tell him that the H&R Block
office in El Dorado Springs was for sale, and this was his chance to “get out
of that city.” He and Edith decided to make the change, bought the
franchise, and moved to a farmhouse on four acres at Dederick. On these
four acres he made sure that his children experienced driving a tractor,
baling hay, raising chickens and peacocks, gardening, riding horses and
seeing a new foal born.

When they made the move, Charles and Edith spent a week at a card table
in the back room of H&R Block learning to prepare tax returns and went to
work. The next year, they bought the H&R Block office in Lamar and Edith
ran that office for more than 30 years while Charles ran the office in El
Dorado Springs. Through the years he taught “Tax School” as a means of
developing employees. He even taught tax preparation to the employees of
other franchise operators. Throughout his years in business, he hosted one
day of the “Party Line” program on KESM where they would call and talk to him

as advertisement for his businesses. He was the longest running
sponsor they ever had.

In the early years, Charles worked as a plumber for Dennis Pursley during
the off season. One day, Dennis told Charles to come to Lion’s Club with
him. Charles joined the club and was an active member for 53 years. He
was president of the club several times and was District Governor twice. He
had great fun being the “tail twister” and was most pleased by the new
members he invited and the new Clubs he helped organize. His family
enjoyed vacations by attending Lions Clubs International Conventions. He
was proud that John and Charlene, as well as several other high school
musicians from El Dorado Springs participated in the Missouri All-State
Lions Club Bands. When the local Cub Scout Pack had a shortage of
leaders, he stepped up to be the Cub Master and recruited Den Leaders so
that the local boys could be Cub Scouts. Charles supported the Chamber
of Commerce and other community events.
He also taught Math during the first semester of the school year at Walker
and Schell City schools when they could not find a Math teacher. He
enjoyed those times very much.
Shortly after moving to the area, Charles and Edith moved their church
membership to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in St. Clair County, North of
El Dorado Springs. Charles was the song leader and Sunday School
teacher for most of those years. He was Moderator of the St. Clair County
Missionary Baptist Association for many years. In the last ten years, he and
Edith were the only active members at Pleasant Grove. During that time,
they continued to hire a pastor and meet two Sundays a month. They were
determined to keep the church doors open so long as they were physically
able. During that time, they also attended the church in El Dorado Springs,
where they were warmly welcomed. When they could no longer make the
drive to Pleasant Grove, they attended church at Bethel, in Nevada, where
they became part of the family. Only weeks before his death he attended
services at Blue Mound Mission, and he knelt in prayer at Bethel.
After the death of his Dad in 1980, they moved into town so that his Mother,
Helen, could live with them. She spent time visiting her other children but

made her home with Charles and Edith for 16 years. Over the years, they
owned and operated an Office Supply Store and maintained several rental
properties in El Dorado Springs.

Charles was a handy-man and he and Edith did most of the work on the
rental properties. He often hired people with the intention of helping them
improve their situation. No one knows how many times he loaned people
money and traded services for rent. He looked for and saw the potential for
good in others. He was quick to overlook or forgive the flaws of others. It
was always his desire to be of service to God, family, and community.
When his Grandson, Noah, was born, Charles wanted a place where the
city boy could come, play in the creek and experience a rural lifestyle. They
moved back to 13 acres at Dederick and happily accomplished that goal.
When Jakadeen Doman was the last active member of Blue Mound Baptist
Church, she asked Charles to be a signor on the church bank account.
After her death, knowing that she wanted services to continue, he wrote a
letter to “Friends of Blue Mound” and invited them to a church
service/meeting. At that service, people testified of meaningful experiences
they had at Blue Mound and voted to start a Mission that would meet twice
a month. Through the years many preachers from around the country have
traveled to preach the Word at Blue Mound and many different Baptists
have attended spiritual services at the Mission. It has been and continues
to be a source of inspiration and fellowship with services on most 1 st and 3 rd
Thursday evenings.

After Edith sold her tax office in Lamar, she and Charles worked together in
El Dorado Springs. In 2010, they sold the business and continued to work
for Stephanie Harper, the new owner. When Charles’ eyesight failed to the
point that he could not see the computer, he retired, and Edith continued to
work. She completed 50 years of doing tax returns before Charles had a
stroke in August of 2022 and again in December of that year. Charles
worked hard at rehab in Springfield after each of the strokes. He made a
good recovery, and they moved to Nevada for more suitable housing. He
always expected to improve enough to get rid of the walker and never
stopped wanting to drive, work and be productive. The Home Health and

Hospice professionals who visited him always liked him and brought him
gifts, hugs, and milkshakes.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John Winfiel, sister-
in-law Norma Winfiel and nephew Kerry Winfiel.
He is survived by his wife, Edith, of the home; brother Dean Winfiel and
wife, Verna of Bolivar, MO; sister Carol Stephenson and husband Gail of
Springfield, MO. Nieces and nephews Sherry Shinn and husband Rob of
Lee’s Summit, MO; Ramona Dryer and husband Danny of Bolivar, MO;
Jerry Winfiel of Bolivar, MO; Susan Stephenson of Springfield, MO; Clint
Stephenson and wife Bethany of Springfield, MO. His son, John Winfiel and
wife Miwa and grandson, Noah of Kansas City, MO; His daughter,
Charlene Winfiel and husband Brent Livengood and their children, Nicky
Livengood, Emily Jeffery and husband Chris, as well as their grandchildren
Hannah, Rilen, Addyson and Axtin all of Nevada, MO.
Charles was a man with fears and flaws, but his moral character, humility,
generosity, and a desire to be a servant of God helped him overcome his
weaknesses. We hope to aspire to his example.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Psalm 116:15