Charles O. Allen, Jr., 89, made his final takeoff on Tuesday, September 5, 2017, at South Sunflower County Hospital in Indianola, Mississippi. He was born November 11, 1927, to Charles and Thelma Shell Allen in Sunflower County, Mississippi.

Charles graduated from Lexington High School in Lexington, Mississippi, and moved to Greenwood in the late 1940s. He was employed for a number of years as a plant electrician for both Conmar Products and Medart, a Greenwood manufacturer of steel lockers.

A lifelong pilot, Charles operated an aircraft radio shop in conjunction with Archer Aviation during the 1960s. He assumed the position of manager of the Greenwood-Leflore Airport in June of 1979, and served until fully retiring in 2003.

He was well known by fellow pilots and was a former member of the Civil Air Patrol, Greenwood Lions Club, Greenwood Elks Club and the Southwest Navion Air Group. Charles was a trumpet player and former member of the Greenwood Community Band. He was also a committed ham radio operator whose call sign was KA5TQY. According to current airport manager Grady Perkins, "Charlie was a truly remarkable person. Despite a physical handicap that would have been a major disability to most, he never seemed to notice. He performed tasks using those hands requiring skills well beyond average. He got along very well with people, and most he met soon became his friend."

Charles was an amazingly talented man who held Private, Commercial and Instrument Ratings as a pilot, and he was a licensed aircraft mechanic and radio technician.

Waymon Bankston, who also flies a Navion, worked alongside Charles for several years and said, "Charles was a one of a kind. He was a good friend who had a huge knowledge base that he was always willing to share. I will truly miss him and his great Navion stories."

He had a lifelong love affair with his 1946 North American Navion, 613CA. Charles amassed thousands of hours in a wide range of aircraft. He learned to fly in the 1940s at the Pickens, Mississippi, airport and was still actively flying at age 85.

Charles Allen oversaw much of the modern expansion of the Greenwood-Leflore Airport. Under his management, the airport lengthened Runway 18/36, saw the construction of the FAA's Automated Flight Service Station, the attraction of several airport businesses including what is today GECAS, and the construction of the airport's Air Traffic Control Tower. Allan Hammons stated, "Without Charles' knowledge and dedication, much of the growth of the Greenwood-Leflore Airport would simply not have happened. He was a dear friend and a truly impressive man who will be missed by all who knew him."

Charles Allen was always known for his dogs, who were like airport residents. They had names like "Runway," "Annie" and "Barney," and were his faithful companions, always riding shotgun with him.

Ed Pitcock, Chief of the Greenwood Air Traffic Control Tower said, "Charlie was great to work for. He never got excited, and he could do more than most men half his age. At age 82, he was busy wiring all the electronics in the new control tower. He was up and down the stairs and crawling around on his hands and knees. They just don't make 'em like Charlie anymore."

Charles is survived by his niece Ann Labella of Indianola, Mississippi, and a multitude of friends.

A graveside celebration of life will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, September 8, 2017, at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Greenwood. Reverend Brady Canright will officiate. Burton Funeral Home of Indianola is in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be Grady Perkins, Waymon Bankston, Allan Hammons, Bob Provine, Billy Whittington and Mike Sturdivant, III. Honorary pallbearers are present and former members of the Greenwood-Leflore Airport Board and staff.

Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.burtonfuneralhome.net