1^st Sgt. Charles Francis Waller, USMC (Ret.), 86, of LaGrange, Ga, passed away Saturday, April 1, 2017 surrounded by his family.  He was born Nov. 4, 1930, in a log cabin on a farm near LaGrange, Ga to the late Charles Samuel Sr. and Pearl Cardwell Waller.

He was a Marine’s Marine. 1^st Sgt. Charles F. Waller served 30 years in the United States Marine Corps with combat tours in Korea and Vietnam.  He was a veteran of the Chosin Reservoir and the Tet Offensive, a Korean prisoner of war and also the Marine Detachment 1^st Sgt. on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA42.

Charles was the Charter Commandant of the PFC George Eiland Detachment 1040 of the Marine Corps League, LaGrange, Ga, and was named Veteran of the Year 2016.

He served his community through the Marine Corps League, Toys for Tots, Veterans Council, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, VFW and The LaGrange Optimists Club.

Following retirement he operated his family’s business, The Cake Box of LaGrange.  He was a long time member of Loyd Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his wife, Gwen Waller, LaGrange, Ga;  four daughters,   Ruby Morris, Yuma, Az; Susanne Wall (Charles), Carrollton, Ga;        Mae Waller-Turner (John “Trez”), Leesville, SC; Hazel Sosebee (Thomas), Rainbow City, Al;  one son, Charles S. Waller III (Tracy), LaGrange, Ga;  three step daughters, Theresa Dillard, LaGrange, Ga; Shannon Kellow, Tavares, Fl; Rebecca Boyce, LaGrange, Ga; 17 grandchildren including, Charles Morris and John Morris III of Queen Creek, Az;  Jessica Harms of Summerville, SC;  Jon William Wall and Samuel Wall of Carrollton, Ga; Carol Waller, Elizabeth Waller, Susanne Holloway and Sammy Crowe, all of LaGrange, Ga;  8 great grandchildren and one sister, Suzanne Smith (Clarence), Boerne, Tx.

He was preceded in death by his previous wife, Norma Lee Waller and a brother, Samuel Waller.

Funeral Services for 1^st Sgt. Charles F. Waller (Ret.) will be held at 11 A.M. Wednesday, April 5^th, at the Hunter-Allen-Myhand Chapel with the Dr. Rix Threadgill officiating. The interment will follow on the family plot in Shadowlawn Cemetery with full military honors.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday, April 4^th, from 5 until 7 P.M.

Please join the family in celebrating the life of 1^st Sgt. Waller by logging into hunterallenmyhand.com and posting your tributes