Charles (Charley) Ray Frye April 18, 1934-June 06, 2016
Born in Stockton, Ca. in 1934 to Lawrence and Sallie Frye, Charley was the second oldest of his three siblings, Vivian Anderson (deceased), and twins Connie Keefer (Hank) of Boise, Idaho and 
Ronnie Frye (Denise) of Dixon. Charley married his high school sweetheart Joanne Bailey, on June 15, 1951 at the Stockton Unitarian Church. They had three children, Dennis (Junelle), Lodi; Kathy Helmer (Jim), Ben Lomond and Brenda who died at birth. Married just shy of 60 years, Joanne proceeded Charley in death in 2010.
Charley and Joanne raised their children to be kind to others and to treat animals and nature with respect. They enjoyed doing the simple things in life. Weekends were typically spent gold dredging in the foothills, hitting garage sales, or taking the house boat out for an evening cruise at Buckley Cove. Charley had a modest but rewarding career, working locally at Harley’s Gas Station as a mechanic and then for Safeway until retirement. Mechanically gifted, Charley could fix just about anything. He did not like to see good things go to waste, as he knew there would be someone who could use it at some point. He reveled in folding a 2-dollar bill into a bow-tie and leaving it as part of the tip at his favorite restaurants. For fun and relaxation, Charley enjoyed coin collecting, metal detecting and watching WWF Wrestling.
Charley was a long time member and local President of the International Old Timers CB Radio club and active in his Neighborhood Watch program. Over the years, he owned every type of scanner there was, and would proudly give early alerts to his friends, neighbors and loved ones when an incident was occurring. He also was a big fan of many Stocktonians for his volunteer Bingo calling, most recently every Tuesday night at The Pines Mobile Home Park.
Charley’s guiding principles were honesty, kindness and giving to others and he promoted those values to his children, three grandchildren; Karen Mendez of Henderson, NV., David Frye, Las Vegas, NV. and Barbara Wallwork (Scott) of Campbell, Ca.; and his six great-grandchildren. The family wants to thank Hospice of San Joaquin County, Apex Care Giver Services and Charley’s close friends, Francis, Ester, Marie and Janice for their love and support.
Charley was comforted at his bedside his final days by family and special friends. He said he wanted to go be with Joanne and go happily. That he did, as he kept us laughing with his affectionate sense of humor and big smile.
VISITATION
Friends and family are invited to a viewing on Sunday, June 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home, 831 Industrial Way, Lodi.
SERVICES
Memorial services will be held on Monday, June 13 at 3:00 p.m., Cherokee Memorial Park, Evergreen Chapel on Harney Lane at Highway 99. Committal will follow when Charley will be laid to rest in the Garden of Holy Family beside Joanne. Please sign the online registry and share memories at www.cherokeememorial.com. Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.