Rev. Charles Edward Winfrey passed away in his home on June 10, 2023, with his son by his side.

Charles was born on August 24, 1943 in Lebanon Missouri to Rev James Winfrey and Oma Winfrey Sommerhause. His father died before his fourth birthday. A few years later his mother moved her family to California where she remarried in 1950. In 1955 the family moved from San Diego to Eureka. He graduated from Eureka High in 1962 then worked for Purity Grocery Store, where he would meet his future wife, Kathy, whom he married at then First Congregation Church in Eureka in September of 1965. The following month the army sent him to Okinawa. In 1967 after being discharged from the army he returned back to Eureka to his wife and then began working for Humboldt Bay Pacific Gas & Electric Company until he retired in 2009 after 42 years.

Charles was devoted to his wife of 40 years until her death in 2005 and continued to miss her to the end. Family and his faith were the most important aspects of his life. He pursued all activities that his children were involved in, being seen at various sporting games, music concerts and fund raising events, to becoming involved as a little league umpire to being involved when his son got involved with racing cars. Anything his children were involved in he gave his full support and encouragement. He enjoyed a passion for history, with his main focus on the American Civil War. He got pleasure from his rose garden, ship models and his involvement with the Humboldt County Volunteer Sheriff Posse in the 1970s. He also enjoyed his trips to England to visit his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.

Charles enjoyed eating out at restaurants around area. He was even known to travel to Sepastapol to have a meal. He was well known around the local establishments and most people knew him by name when he walked in. One of the things he liked and enjoyed doing while eating out was picking up the bill of an unexpected diner. Sometimes they would know that he paid for their meal and sometimes they never knew who the act of kindness was from. This gave him great joy as he was able to give something back to others.

Charles was very active within the local Baptist church community, serving as a deacon and associate pastor at Myrtle Avenue Baptist Church (Harvest Church), Sunny Brae Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. He filled in as interim pastor at various churches and traveled to Bridgeville, Rio Dell, Klamath and Hoopa preaching and ministering to others and sharing the word of God to others, which gave him great pleasure. He had a great ability to talk to people and put them at ease. He had a genuine interest and a caring nature for those around him. He was always trusting in people and was willing to give everyone a chance. His faith remained strong right up to the end. He has entered eternal rest and has been reunited with his beloved wife and family that have gone before him.

Charles is preceded in death by his wife, Kathy Winfrey; parents; James Winfrey, Oma Winfrey Sommerhause; stepfather, Ralph Sommerhause; father-in-law, Richard Tausch; mother-in-law, Barbara Tauschl; sister, Ruth Street; brother-in-law Dan Street; brother, James Winfrey; sister, Diane Bent; brother-in-law Patrick Bent; and nephew Dan Street.

Charles is survived by his daughter, Heidi (Luke) Hollingbery; son, Jacob (Jeannie) Winfrey; granddaughter, MaKayla Hollingbery; step-grandson Chris (Gabby) Borges; step-grandson Daniel Kirkpatrick; nieces and nephews Debi (Jim) White, David (Lisbet) Street, James (Dana) Winfrey, Kathy Street, Chelsea Brown, Courtney (Mark) Albritton, Kylie Bent; and many numerous great-nieces and -nephews and great-great-nieces and -nephews.

You are invited to join us on Saturday, June 24, at Calvary Baptist Church 3400 F Street, Eureka.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. viewing at Calvary Baptist Church

2 p.m. Funeral Service at Calvary Baptist Church

Followed by a potluck at Calvary Baptist Church. Please bring a dish for the potluck. We look forward to seeing you as we remember and rejoice in Charles’s life while hearing and sharing any stories or memories that you have of him as we have we can share with you. Like the time he fell off Satan.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Allen S Matthew MD and his team for all the care provided to Charles over the last few years to you we will always be indebted to.

Flowers can be sent to Sanders Funeral Home 1835 E Street Eureka, CA 95501 as funeral arrangements are through them.