Charles “Charlie” Reeves, 87, of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 26, 2026, surrounded by his family.
Charlie was born April 21, 1939, to Iradell Sampson Reeves and Lilly Elsie Ashby Reeves. He graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School in 1957 and went on to study chemical engineering at the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1963. While at the University of Kentucky, he played first clarinet in the Marching 100 and was President of Engineering Professions.
He applied his knowledge of science at Pennwalt Corp, working as an engineer, and later at LECORP, serving first as an engineer and later as president of the company.
Charlie married the love of his life, Nancy Reeves, his lifelong spouse and partner, on December 21, 1963. Charles and Nancy were both private pilots and enjoyed many trips in a Cessna-150 to Memphis and beyond. They went on to have two daughters, Charra and Ginger, who completed the “Core Four” or “Charlie’s Angels,” as he affectionately called them. He loved teaching them to play softball, watching them march in the band, taking them floating on Current River, and spray painting their t-shirts each year for Christmas. Later, he had four grandchildren and loved attending their musical and sporting events. Charlie enjoyed singing four-part harmony around the piano with his wife Nancy at the keys and daughters and grandkids singing their parts.
His strong faith guided his words and his deeds. Charlie was a lifelong member of East Baptist Church, where he grew up as a youth and met Nancy. He and Nancy worked with the youth ministry as young adults, taking them to Bell Smith Springs and Garden of the Gods for hiking and swimming. He became a stalwart member of bible study, enjoyed the church choir, singing with the Scrap Iron quartet, and serving as a deacon for many years.
More than any other hobby, Charlie loved model airplanes. He was widely known within the model airplane community as a gifted craftsman and capable pilot, winning national awards and honors in appearance, old-time stunt, and navy carrier competition. He gave back to this community as a mentor and as an advisor, directing and judging nationwide competitions, while making buckets of homemade ice cream in his hotel room for all the fliers. Charlie co-founded the Western Kentucky/Southern Illinois Stunt Championships, making Paducah, Kentucky, a hotspot for other hobbyists and enthusiasts. He and Nancy loved nothing more than hosting “come all” BBQ cookouts at their home following the annual Paducah fly-in.
His family and friends will remember him for his patience, his ability to fix anything, his humor, his modesty, and his cheerful and generous spirit. He was known for watching the birds, feeding his leftovers to neighborhood dogs, and expertly spotting wildlife from his rocking chair on the porch. He was a “southern gentleman” through and through, even insisting on holding the door open for people while balancing on his walker.
Charles is predeceased by his wife, Nancy Reeves, and his parents, Iradell Sampson Reeves and Lilly Elsie Ashby Reeves.
Charles is survived by his sister, Donna "Jeaneen" Crocker of Benton, Kentucky; his two children, Charra Sweeney-Reeves (Mary) of Savannah, Georgia, and Ginger Feather (David) of Overland Park, Kansas; and his four grandchildren, Alec Feather, Kyle Feather (Dominique), Eli Feather, and Avery Feather.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 3, 2026, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Bro. Michael Wooley officiating. Burial will follow at McKendree United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.
Expressions of Sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to the Academy of Model Aeronautics, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN 47302.
Share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.
