William “Bill” Doyle Challen, 99, of Charlotte, North Carolina died Friday, March 25, 2016. He was formerly a resident of Memphis, Tennessee for 70 years before coming to Charlotte in 2006 to be closer to family. Bill was born Aug. 6, 1916 in Cherokee, Alabama, the last living sibling of the eight children born to Sarah Elizabeth Carter and James Johnston Challen of Tuscumbia, Alabama.
Bill served in the Army during World War II as a Captain in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. Following his discharge from the Army, he worked as a steamship agent for Biehl and Company until his retirement.
While living in Memphis, Bill was a deacon, choir member and youth adviser at Evergreen Presbyterian Church. He loved working with young people and became a volunteer in the football and tennis programs at Rhodes College. He was a faithful supporter of the Church Health Center in Memphis. Bill loved to travel and had as many stories about the people he met as he did the places he saw. He never met a stranger during his travels and many became lifelong friends. Bill was an avid tennis player, loved opera, good literature, classical music and often audited courses at Rhodes as he had an insatiable love for learning. “Uncle B” is survived by 35 nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. He was dearly loved by all!
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2016 in Oakwood Cemetery in Tuscumbia.
Memorials may be made to the Church Health Center, 1196 Peabody Ave., Memphis, TN 38104 or Rhodes College 2000 N. Parkway, Memphis, TN 38104 for the William D. Challen scholarship fund.
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Services, 1321 Berkeley Ave. 704-641-7606.
