Charles Roy Stanley

Charles Roy Stanley, at his home with family and friends, was graduated into final glory on June 9, 2012. Charles was born April 23, 1931 to C. Roy and Hazel Stanley in Tulsa, OK, during the Great Depression. For their two children, even being out of work, his father bought a cow for nourishment and a piano for life-long music enjoyment. After graduating from Tulsa Central High School in 1949, Charles attended the Church of God-related Anderson College in Indiana where he majored in music and met his future wife, Marilyn Snider. They celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on June 7, 2012, just 2 days prior to his passing. Throughout his life, Charles has served as Minister of Music at churches in Hamilton, OH, New Albany, IN, Tallahassee, FL, Binghamton, NY, and since 1971, has served in all facets of the music ministry at Western Hills United Methodist Church in El Paso, TX. He earned a Master of Church Music Degree from Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY in 1959 and moved his family to Anderson, IN, where he taught music at Anderson College. Charles taught voice, choir, music theory, harmony, and composition at UTEP from 1966-1996. In 1971, he served on the committee to design the new Fine Arts Building at UTEP. He also developed the university’s first electronic music program. Charles is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn ; four children, Stephen (Emmy) Stanley, Sharlene (Jim) Henderson, Dr. Sharilyn Stanley (Ron Torrey), and Sue (Tony) Mortellaro; nine grand-children, Ruth Stanley, Sarah Stanley, Elizabeth (Dedric) Jones, Chris (Korie) Campbell-Stanley, Jonathan Stanley, Valerie Cantrell, Amanda (Winsten) Dickerson, Tricia Cantrell, and Jacob Mortellaro. Charles is also survived by his sister, Donna Thomas, and his sister-in-law, Kathleen (Jerry) Egelston. A Celebration of Charles’ life will be June 12, 2012, 10:00 a.m. at Western Hills United Methodist Church, 524 Thunderbird Dr., El Paso, TX 79912. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the “Charles and Marilyn Stanley Music Fund” of Western Hills Church. Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Byron Chesbro, his staff, to the La Mariposa Hospice and to all who have sent prayers, thoughts, meals, and cards. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West.