Charley Joe Gowdy, 74, of rural Iola died Thursday, March 25, 2010, at Allen County Hospital in Iola.
He was born June 16, 1935, on a ranch near Bristow, Okla., the son of Vernon Leroy and Virgie (Frazier) Gowdy. He graduated from Bristow High School and Coffeyville Junior College. He received a bachelor of science degree and master’s degree in education from Emporia State University.
He taught government and coached for 12 years at Emporia High School and for 21 years at Great Bend High School. After retiring from teaching in 1992, he worked mainly for the Follett Company which bought used school books and restored them for resale.
On Aug. 30, 1969, he married Diane Dietrich. They moved to rural Iola in 1996.
He is listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers and was a member of Kansas Wrestling Coaches Hall Of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of the home; three sons, Kurt K. and his wife, Miriam, Olathe, Lynn A. and his wife, Donna, Bentonville, Ark., and Kevin C., Wichita; two daughters, Marla L. Poston and Sherri R. Gowdy, both of Wichita; two brothers, Lavan, Amarillo, Texas, and Vernon Jr., Oklahoma City, Okla.; four sisters, Marjorie Hill and Lena Dressler, both of Bristow, Virgie Jones, Midwest City, Okla., and Karen Coleman, Orange Park, Fla.; and eight grandchildren.
A sister, Grace Smith, died earlier.
Cremation has taken place.
Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapels in Iola. Chaplain Lloyd W. Houk will officiate.
Memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences for the family may be left at iolafuneral.com.
Charley Gowdy
