Charles Edward Yeager, Sr., 82, of Salem, passed away at home on Monday, April 10, 2017. He was born on May 17, 1934, on Turtle Tree Fork, WV, a son of the late Jesse Wade Yeager and Hazel (Greynolds) Yeager.
He is survived by five children, Annette DeBarr and her husband Paul, West Milford; Bernie Yeager and his wife Nanette, Bridgeport; Chuck Yeager and his wife Melanie, Salem; Kathy Baisden and her husband Brian, Leesburg, VA; and Doug Yeager and his wife Cecille, Fairfax, VA; seven grandchildren, Ashley Clark Keith and her husband Gary, Clarksburg; Christian and Mia Yeager, Bridgeport; Austin and Brett Baisden, Leesburg, VA; and Blake and Clarissa Yeager, Fairfax, VA. Two brothers, Blaine Yeager, Salem, and James O. Yeager and his wife Elizabeth, Salem; two sisters, Shelba Jean Zirkle and her husband Rodger, Salem; and Linda Marlene Cheuvront, Sycamore; and many nieces and nephews complete his family. He is also survived by his former wife, Kathryn Sue Bolte; his special friend, Pam Frye; and his two elkhound dogs, Buffy and Bootsy.
Charles graduated from Bristol High School in 1953, and served in the US Army from 1959 – 1962. He was a former mechanic at Wilson Ford and Yeager Brothers, and had also worked at White & Bailey Glass Factory, and many other work accomplishments in the automotive and heavy equipment industry that would be too many to mention. He had the ingenuity and passion for developing ideas and while working at KSD Diesel he was instrumental in the development of the methane buster.
Besides working, he enjoyed deer hunting and NASCAR racing. Because of his kind and generous nature, he was charitable and giving to others.
Family and friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport on Thursday, April 13, 2017, from 2 – 4 & 6 – 8 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, April 14, 2017, at 11:00 am with Reverend George Murphy presiding. Interment will be in Jarvisville Baptist Cemetery, Jarvisville.