Charlie W. Friend

Charles William Friend, age 87, of Rolla, Kansas, died Thursday, January 25, 2018, at Satanta Long Term Care Unit in Satanta, Kansas. He was born November 11, 1930, at the Homestead Dugout in Rolla, Kansas. He was the firstborn son of George and Esther (King) Friend.

Charles attended Southwestern Bible Institute where he met his wife Dru Ann Smithson. They married on June 2, 1951. Charles went on to finish his education at Texas Tech, where he graduated with his Bachelors in Education with a minor in Spanish. He returned to Rolla, Kansas, for a few years to teach, then moved to California and continued his teaching career. In 1965, he returned to Kansas to farm. Charles taught Adult Sunday School for many years at Rolla Pentecostal Church and served as a USD 217 school board member. He and Dru were members of MAPS, Mission America Placement Services, a service that coordinates volunteers to assist churches with construction and evangelism projects.

Charles loved spending time with his family and especially grandchildren. Houston Friend was the most intelligent child ever born, and Shome Hollis was the apple of his eye. In his younger days, he and his brother Don would perform daring water skiing feats at the lake. In his later years, he enjoyed card games and dominoes, crosswords and Sudoku.

Survivors include a son, Clark Friend and wife Brenda of Satanta, Kansas; daughter, Janice Hollis and husband Michael of Rolla; brother, Don Friend and wife Betty; grandchildren, Houston Friend and Shome Day; and great-grandchildren, Zachary, Zander and Zayden Day.

Charles is preceded in death by his wife, Dru; son, Carson Friend; daughter-in-law, Donna Friend; and granddaughter, Christy Friend.

Funeral service will be held Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at 10:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Rolla, Kansas, with Pastor Marcus Light officiating. Interment will follow at the Rolla Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday, January 30, 2018, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart. Memorials may be given to Rolla Pentecostal Holiness Church in Rolla, Kansas, in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.