Charles Alexander Bliss
Charles Alexander Bliss, Jr
April 7, 1930 – October 25, 2022
Charles Alexander Bliss, Jr went home to be with his Lord and Savior at his residence surrounded by his family and reunited with his wife, Louise, who passed in March 11, 2022. Charles was born on April 7, 1930 to the late Charles A. Bliss, Sr and Virginia Vernon Bliss in Blairs, Virginia.
On December 23, 1947, while attending a church program, he met Louise Hawkins. Years later he admitted that he told his best friend that night that he was going to marry Louise. They married on September 2, 1950 and were blessed with 71½ years together, only being apart for 1 year while he was stationed in Germany during his service in the US Army. After his discharge from the military, they made their home on Piney Forest Road where they welcomed their first two children and started Bliss Electric Company. In 1958, Charles and his family moved to Stoney Mill to care for his ailing in-laws and assume operation of Stoney Mill Flour & Corn Mill from his father-in-law. He and his wife completed their family with the addition of two more children. In 1963, they expanded the mill to include a feed mill and eventually added Stoney Mill Auto Repair.
Charles served in the US Army during the Korean War and was a very proud American, a characteristic he instilled in his family. He became affectionately known as Pop to his family after the birth of his first grandchild, a name he was very proud to have.
He was a Godly man that always tried to live an example setting life. For many years, Charles was a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church. Currently, he is a member of Vandola Baptist Church. Charles was a founding member of Tunstall Volunteer Fire Department. In those early years he spent many hours keeping the trucks running in addition to fighting fires. He worked hard all of his life to provide for his family. He was an excellent mechanic that could fix anything.
Charles enjoyed many outdoor activities, sports and music, but most of all he loved spending time with his family – his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren and his great, great-grandchild, his Ohio family and his friends. Charles loved camping, fishing and boating on Buggs Island Lake and it was there in 1968 he and his family met Don, Ruth and Rocky Lowe of Marysville, Ohio forming a very special family, one that continues today on earth and in heaven.
Another of Charles’ loves was stock car racing. He was a fan of Bobby Allison and all Chevrolets. Races were family affairs for Charles, Louise, their children and grandchildren. They made friends with other race fans attending the worship services and gospel sings held in the camping areas at the tracks. He also loved baseball and was an Atlanta Braves fan until the Washington Nationals formed. He and Louise also loved taking the motorhome to Dominion Valley for the gospel music festival every Labor Day weekend for their anniversary.
He is survived by daughters Rhonda Brown (Darrell) of Walnut Cove, NC and Gale Bliss (John Lemons) of Danville, VA; sons Chuck Bliss (Jackie) of Danville, VA and Tony Bliss (Debbie) of Ridgeway, VA; a granddaughter who was more like a daughter Casey Sharp (Karl) of Martinsville, VA. Grandchildren: Julie McBride (Jason) of Gainesville, FL; Matt Wells (Ana) of Greensboro, NC; Brad Wells (Denise) of Houston, TX; Ashley Willis (Gary) of Dry Fork, VA; Jason Bliss (Francesca) of Vienna, VA; Jacob Bliss (Sasha) of Raleigh, NC; John Alexander “Alex” Leavy of Danville, VA. Great grandchildren: Maria Garris of Jacksonville, NC; Austin Branch of Gainesville, FL; Xavier Wells of Greensboro, NC; Chloe Alexandria and Angelina Wells of Houston, TX; Reed Alexandria Marion of Martinsville, VA; Kaleb and Peyton Willis of Dry Fork, VA; Julian and Adrian Bliss of Vienna, VA. Great-great grandchild: Scarlett Garris of Jacksonville, NC; his Ohio family: Rocky and Jez Lowe, Brandon and Tiffany Lowe, Logan Lowe, Winston and Colbie Lowe all of Marysville, OH; sister-in-law Audrey Bliss of Danville, VA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by sisters Frances Marshall and Shelby Robertson; brothers Clyde Bliss and Howard Bliss; brothers-in-law Raleigh Marshall, Allen Robertson and Luther Payne; sisters-in-law Mae Bliss and Mary Payne; beloved nephew Jimmy Marshall; special friends Don and Ruth Lowe.
A funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 28, 2022 at Norris Funeral Services, West End Chapel, 511 Church Ave., Danville, VA with Pastors Scott Bortz and Daryl Joyce officiating. Interment will follow at the Bliss Family Cemetery. An informal visitation will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, October 27, 2022 at Tunstall Volunteer Fire Department, 740 Tunstall High Rd, Dry Fork, VA. The family will receive friends at the residence at other times.
The family would like to thank Mountain Valley Hospice and Pallative Care for their services over the last year. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Tunstall Volunteer Fire Department, Dry Fork, VA or the charity of your choice.