Charles Allen “Shorty” Frye 76, of Harts departed this life on June 14, 2024, at his residence.
He was born Nov. 17, 1947, at Slagle, a son of the late Garland “Dock” and Dixie McNeely Frye.
Mr. Frye was a retired pipefitter and welder, a member of the United Mine Workers of America and he attended the Coal Branch Church at Harts.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Vietnam Conflict. He was stationed in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, Ft. Polk, Louisiana, Ft. Hood, Texas, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and Ft. Lewis, Washington. He served in Vietnam from January 1968 until January 1969, with the base camp at Camp Eagle near Hue (pronounced “way”), was in the Tet offensive in 1968, and he received several medals, including the Purple Heart.
He was a charter member of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Association, Harts Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service, Lincoln County Crime Watch, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 39, and Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 733, as well as serving as the senior vice commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of West Virginia. In addition to all of these organizations, he was a life member of Vietnam Veterans of Amercia (Chapter #103), Veterans of Foreign Wars (Chapter #6135), 1015 Airborne Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart (Chapter #733), DAV (Chapter #39), Kentucky Colonels, U.M.W.A., American Legion (Chapter #103), and National Rifle Association. He was a Veteran Affairs Honor Board member for more than 35 years, and he also served as president of the Harts Crime Watch.
He loved going to church, spending time with his family, volunteering at the nursing home, and helping any veteran and their family. He was blessed to get to spend his life with the wife God gave him, his two kids, and his grandkids. He loved them all, and they meant more to him than they will ever know.
He is survived by a daughter, Jill (Mark) Carver of Charleston; a son, Jason Allen (Jessica) Frye of Charleston; grandchildren, Carson Toney, Cadie Isabella Toney, Marlow Frye, Ayana Carver, and Alex Carver; very close friends, Roy and Teresa Bowers, Seth Bowers, Clinton Bowers, Jimmy Carter, Kit Meade, the VA Hospital and administrators, and the West Virginia State Police; three brothers-in-law, Clovis Manns, Charles Brumfield, and Anthony (Lisa) Brumfield; two sisters-in-law, Pat Frye and Gayle Frye; and many nieces and nephews, along with a host of extended family and countless friends.
He was also preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Joy Brumfield Frye; a sister, Rose Manns; three brothers, Fletcher Frye, Bobby Joe Frye, and Donald Ray Frye; and a son-in-law, Terry Toney.
Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel at Chapmanville with a military walk by at 1 p.m. Funeral services will follow with Pastor Jimmy Carter officiating. A private burial will follow in the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery at Dunbar.
Military Honors will be conducted at Evans Funeral Home following the services by the VFW Chapter #6153 and American Legion Chapter #103 of Chapmanville and DAV Chapter #39 of Harts.
Pallbearers will be Paul Frye, Tommy Frye, Garland Manns, Alex Brumfield, Mike Walker, and Chad Manns. Honorary pallbearer will be Clovis Manns.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #733, PO Box 152 Henlawson, WV 25624.
