Charles Willis McConnell Jr., died on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at the Kenton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a series of illnesses. He was born on Dec. 13, 1931, in St. Paris, to the late Charles W. McConnell, Sr., an industrial foreman, and Laura (Huffman) McConnell, the founder of Michael’s Pizza.
Charles grew up in a home of “Roosevelt Democrats,” as his parents described themselves. His political views were important to him, and sometimes not in line with those around him. In the early 1960’s, Charles coached the Shively’s men’s softball team. He was a leader in the effort to integrate the formerly segregated softball league, and Shively’s became the first team to include African-American players.
Photography played a big role in Charles’s life. After high school, he was a projectionist at the Gloria movie house in Urbana. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Navy at the start of the Korean War, becoming a naval photographer. Although he never went to Korea, he had his own harrowing experiences. He would tell of photographing naval maneuvers off the American coast and participating in “high-line personnel transfers” between ships, resulting during rough seas in dunkings into the ocean. He had a knife to cut himself free if something went wrong. For those like Charles who did not swim, these experiences were especially nerve-wracking.
After leaving the Navy in 1955, Charles was hired to be the lithographer at Merchants Industries, where he worked for more than 30 years with a camera as large as himself. He was a projectionist at the Holland Theatre for a time, and occasionally did weddings for Lee Woodruff Photography. After Merchants Industries closed in the late 1980’s, he set up his own company, Painter Printing, in Mt. Victory.
Charles was always involved in sports. Besides coaching softball, he also coached little league in Bellefontaine in the 1960’s and refereed high school basketball. Later, he was a bowler. He was also an avid fan. He enjoyed watching any sport, especially if the Buckeyes were playing.
He was a member of Rhinehart Church, Painter Creek Grange and the Masonic Lodge in LaRue.
He is survived by the former Melinda Amstutz, whom he married Oct. 11, 1986. He is also survived by his first wife, Ruth Schultz, and their children, Jeffrey (Janet Chumley) McConnell and Teresa Miller; and by his second wife, Michael Ann Witwer, and their son, Chris (Robin) McConnell. Also surviving are two stepsons, Blake (Crystal) Radcliffe and Brent (Angie) Radcliffe; a brother, William “Bill” McConnell; three grandchildren, Reed McConnell, Michael (Melissa) McConnell and Joe (Alyssa) McConnell; and four great-grandchildren, Elliott, Gabriel, Sunny and Linen McConnell. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert McConnell and Daniel Hunter McConnell; a son-in-law, Mark Miller; and a stepson, Ben Radcliffe.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 2, at the Otterbein Cemetery in Mt. Victory with Rev. Phillip Compton officiating. Military honors will be provided by Amvets Post 1994 of Kenton. The Price-McElroy Funeral Home in Kenton is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rhinehart Church or the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be expressed at pricefh.net.