Charles Alvin Painter, Jr. of Bradenton, Florida, passed away Monday, January 11, 2021, at Blake Medical Center, Bradenton, Fl at the age of 88. Charlie, as he was called by those who knew him, was born in Winchester (Franklin County), Tennessee on September 21, 1932, to the late Charles Alvin Painter, Sr. and the late Ferrol Odessa Haynes Painter. He graduated from Central High School (now Franklin County High). He played on the football team, was offered a scholarship to Vanderbilt University but turned it down to join the Army. He married the late Billie Ruth Delzell (Decherd, TN.) and was stationed at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The Army trained Charlie well, as he became well-versed in microwave communications, as it was first emerging, and electrical engineering. He was honorably discharged and went to work as a civilian with the Army before landing at General Electric. With GE, he had a successful career, working in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia. He rose into management with the company and ended his time with them by working in their Cairo, Egypt office before retiring in 1983. In retirement, Charlie lived in the Franklin, Tennessee area for a couple of years before moving to Florida, finally settling in Bradenton. He enjoyed traveling, taking trips all over America, and took a couple of trips to Europe. One such trip involved traveling up the Eastern Seaboard with grandson Grant Painter, visiting all of the civil-war battlefields as well as taking in the sights and history of Washington, DC. He enjoyed hiking, walking, and golfing as well. Another was a trip with grandson Mat to take in various music festivals. Charlie and Billie Ruth had two children, Anita Diane Painter Woodruff, and Steven Lewis Painter. He was active in his children’s activities, notably softball and baseball, as both a coach and a fan. It’s worth noting that Christmas was his favorite time of the year, winning a city-wide contest one year for yard-of-the-month in Chattanooga during the holiday period. Charlie is survived by his two children: Daughter Anita Diane Painter Woodruff (Woody), and son Steven Lewis Painter, sister Ida Lucille Painter Ellis, and brother Dennis Wayne Painter (Patricia). Two grandsons, Mathew William Woodruff (Julie) and Grant Russell Painter. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Betty Jo Painter McCrary, brother James Granville Painter, half-sister Emma Louise Painter Tucker (Ernest), and half-brother Charles Lendon Painter (Dorothy). He had seven nieces, 9 nephews, and several great-niece’s and nephews. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, Winchester, TN. Visitation will be Saturday, January 16, 2021, from 11:00, am until 1:00 pm, with a brief service and burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be considered for Disabled American Vets, dav.org or PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 1st Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, 931-967-2222
