Charles Edward Stewart, Jr. age 89, Carl Junction, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at Spring River Christian Village in Joplin. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. Ed, as he was better known, was born to Charles E. Stewart, Sr. and Lucille Morgan Stewart on October 28, 1926 in Dallas, Texas.
Both his parents, and his brother Richard Stewart of Olympia, Washington, preceded him in death.
He graduated from high school in Kansas City, Missouri, where he earned an Eagle Scout Badge. He then graduated from Central State University, Warrensburg, Missouri with a math degree before serving in the United States Army Air Corp where he was in flight training at the end of World War II. He returned to Missouri and earned a Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He worked for U. S. Industrial Chemicals for 32 years. During that time his family moved to several locations for his work including Belgium and Taiwan where Ed was in charge of the construction and maintenance of the polyethylene plants for the company.
In 1957, he married Sue Jones in Joplin, and they had two children, Kevin Stewart (Julie), and Kathleen Stewart Callicutt (Hayward) all of Silsbee, Texas. Sue preceded him in death in 1992. He has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He married Phyllis White DeTar in 1999, she survives along with her two children, George DeTar (Sarah) of Longmont, Colorado, and Marilee Shepard (Rusty) of Austin, Texas, making Ed a step grandfather to five, and step-great-grandfather to one.
Ed was a dedicated Mason, and served as District Deputy Grand Master of Texas, as well as Grand Worshipful Master of his local Lodge #927 in Silsbee, Texas. He was a member of the Mirza Shrine in Pittsburg, Kansas where he was an active member during his healthy years, and truly enjoyed taking children and a parent to the Shrine Hospitals in St. Louis and Galveston for treatment, all at no cost to the patient or their family.
Funeral services will be Monday, September 12, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Joplin with Pastor Dave Burgess officiating, and Masonic Services to follow.
Interment will be Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Beaumont, Texas with Masonic Rites by the Silsbee #927 Masonic Lodge.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Mirza Shrine Hospital Dads, Pittsburg, Kansas, First Presbyterian Church of Joplin, or donor's favorite charity.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri, and Farmer's Funeral Home, Silsbee, Texas.
