Dr. Charles O. Stanley Obituary (1925 - 2023)

Dr. Charles O. Stanley, 97, of Decatur, IL died peacefully at Summit Hills in Spartanburg, SC on Monday November 27, 2023. Visitation will be Saturday, December 2, 10 AM at Central Christian Church in Decatur, IL with Celebration of Life Service following at 11 AM. There will be a private burial in Graceland Cemetery. Memorials will be welcomed at Central Christian Church and Salvation Army. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at dawson-wikoff.com. Dr. Stanley was born December 29, 1925, in Decatur to a family of physicians. His father Dean Stanley, grandfather Otis Orien Stanley and great-grandfather Halstead Applegate were all physicians. In 1950, Charles Stanley received a medical degree from University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago and then interned at Philadelphia General Hospital. After serving in the US Navy Medical Corps during the Korean War from 1952-54 (one year at a US Naval Hospital in Philadelphia and the other year as a ship physician on troop transports which went many places including Germany, France, the Caribbean, Korea, Washington State, and Panama). Dr. Stanley completed a three-year fellowship in internal medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He practiced internal medicine with his father and grandfather in 1957. His brother Dr. Paul R. Stanley joined the practice in 1964. Dr. Charles retired from active practice in 1999. Dr. Stanley was a member and past president of the Macon County Medical Society, a member of the staff at Decatur Memorial Hospital and a member of the staff at St. Mary's Hospital. He was a member of Illinois State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians and a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He was a member of Central Christian Church, and the Country Club of Decatur. He married Mary Lou Reid in 1955 and they were married 67 wonderful years. Surviving are his wife Mary Lou; his son, Bill Stanley of Atlanta, GA; daughters, Patti Moran of Spartanburg, SC; Sara Ann Reynolds of Seattle, WA; grandsons, Charles (Lindsey) Floyd of Spartanburg, SC; Patrick Moran of Spartanburg, SC; granddaughters, Jamie Moran of Little River, SC; Katherine (Tucker) Hopp of Seattle, WA; Elizabeth (Peter) Gruene of Newport Beach, CA; Jennifer (Don) Bollard of Santa Monica, CA; Hannah Reynolds of Bentonville, AR; two great-granddaughters, Ruby Gruene and Georgia Hopp. Dr. Charles Stanley was deeply respected and greatly loved by his family and the community. He enjoyed life and loved traveling with his wife. They had many adventures together. Dr. Charles will be truly missed.