Charles Ernest Price 1937 - 2010 Charles Ernest Price, 72, of rural Thompsonville passed away at his home, in the company of his family on Tuesday morning, March 30, 2010 after a long battle with cancer. Charlie was born May 16, 1937 in East St. Louis, Illinois to Hiram and Ruth Duryea Price. He was raised by his mother and step-father, Eli and Ruth Hook of McLeansboro, who both survive. He was married August 13, 1956 in East St. Louis to Judith Afton Heflin who also survives. To this union were born eight children, Charles and wife Carol Price of Rocheport, Missouri; Ellen Price of Columbia, Missouri; Jane and husband David Clark of Galatia; Sarah and husband Fred Gill of Carterville; Susan Taylor Gesell and husband Brad Gesell of Benton; Cullen and wife Chasidy Price of Thompsonville; Jennifer and husband Travis Tate of Galatia; and Clinton and wife Roxanne Price of Thompsonville. Charlie loved all his 8 children, 19 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren and loved to visit with them. Additionally he is survived by a brother, Ralph Price of Granite City; step-brother Eli Hook Jr. of McLeansboro; and step-sister Janet Lientz of McLeansboro, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Hiram, and two step-brothers, George Hook and Harold Hook. Charlie was a veteran of the U. S. Navy where he served on the USS Fulton from 1954-1957. After dropping out of high school, he obtained his GED while in the Navy and graduated from the University of Missouri at Rolla in 1964 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and followed that with a Masters Degree in 1969. He spent his career working in the management and construction of coal-fired electric power plants and served as a consultant on many projects across the country, continuing after he retired in 2002 from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale as the Superintendent of Utilities. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and Kentucky, a member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, The National Society of Professional Engineers, Pi Tau Sigma Honorary, and held an Illinois state teacher's certificate. He enjoyed two cylinder John Deere tractors and restored many of them in his later years. Charlie was a strong Christian man who trusted in the Lord and was always willing to share his beliefs. He taught Sunday School at Dillingham Community Church in rural Thompsonville. He was a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar in the Rolla, Missouri Chapter and a member of Galatia Lodge 684 A. F. & A. M. Services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, April 2 at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg with Revered David Schawo and Reverend Jerry Williams officiating. Burial will be in Dillingham Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 PM Thursday evening at the funeral chapel. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association-Galatia Stride and Ride or to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc of Marion.