Charles Edward Jeffress

Charles Edward Jeffress, 94, of Topeka, Kansas - a beloved member of the Greatest Generation - died on February 28, 2022, from Alzheimer's disease.

He was born on March 4, 1927, in Amarillo, Texas, the son of James Edward Jeffress and Martha Lou Eva Ratliff Jeffress.

After his graduation from Amarillo High School and attendance at Amarillo College and West Texas State University, Charles volunteered for the U.S. Navy in 1945 and served during World War II in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. After the war, Charles stayed in the U.S. Naval Reserve and was recalled to active duty in 1950 to serve in Korea for 14 months aboard the hospital ship USS Repose.

He married Betty Ward in 1952 in Amarillo, and their union continued for 67 years until her death from Alzheimer's in 2019. Charles patiently provided loving care to Betty through the many years she lived after her diagnosis. Survivors include a son, Steven Jeffress (Brenda James), Missouri City, Texas, and a daughter, Stacy Jeffress, Topeka. He leaves four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers James and Morris, and sister Mary Richey.

Charles was a long-time employee of the Santa Fe Railroad from 1947 until his retirement on April 1, 1987. His first "temporary" job for the Panhandle and Santa Fe in Amarillo was as a mail clerk in the Accounting Department. From Amarillo, Charles was transferred to Chicago to work as Assistant Chief Statistical Clerk in the corporate offices. From Chicago, he was transferred to Galveston, Texas, to work for The Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad as Assistant Chief Clerk in the Accounting Department. From there, Charles was transferred in 1965 to Topeka, where he had various Accounting Department assignments until 1972 when he was promoted to Manager of Statistics in the Chicago corporate offices. His final move was in 1974 when he was transferred back to Topeka where he became Director of Budgets, Cost Accounting, and Statistics. In his capacity as Statistical Director, Charles represented the Santa Fe for 14 years on the Statistics and Financial Reporting Committee of The Association of American Railroads and was chairman of this group on two occasions.

Charles was a member of the Santa Fe Retirees Club, the Amarillo High School Alumni Association, and the Topeka Downtown Rotary Club where he was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

A public service will be held on Friday, March 4th at 1:00 p.m. at the Mount Hope Cemetery Chapel, 4700 SW 17th St. in Topeka. The family will receive friends and visitors for one hour before the service.

Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of the donor's choosing or to the Rotary International Foundation in care of the Rotary Club of Topeka YWCA Building, 225 SW 12th St., Topeka, KS 66612.

Dove Cremations and Funerals Southwest Chapel is assisting the family.

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