Charlie Earnheart

Charles “Charlie” Earnheart, lifelong resident and businessman of Idabel,OK and McCurtain County icon passed away October 18, 2020 in Norman, OK at the age of 88. 

Born January 22, 1932 to Vida Louise (Ryno) Earnheart and Benjamin Franklin (BF) Earnheart.  Louise and BF’s blended family included at least ten children.

Married Judy Mathews January 13, 1951, divorced 1964, remarried Judy March 13, 1975. 

He joined the service and served with the 45th Infantry Division, Company “G”, 180th Infantry in Korea as a Sgt in the motor pool. 

He graduated from Idabel High School in May 1953.

Charlie was a busy man, He was always out in the community. He purchased his father’s Photography business and at one point there was an Earnheart’s Studio in Idabel, Broken Bow, Hugo, and Valliant.  He traveled the Eastern part of the state taking School Day pictures, School Group Pictures, Family Reunion and Wedding portraits, Sports Events, and various Organizations. A good portion of his years in the photography business was spent in the dark room developing film, printing pictures, and cutting them. 

After retiring from the photography business, he and Judy opened Earnheart’s Video Haus.

Charlie was a very active guy, a jack of all trades, and a jokester. If he wasn’t out working taking pictures, he was rebuilding is favorite Harley Davidson motorcycle or four wheeler, tractor, or lawn mower.  He was a pretty good carpenter and could build anything he put his mind to; not only home projects but other projects like building model airplanes; one of his favorites was a Piper Cub J-3 with a wingspan of 70 ½ inches. He liked to pass on his skills to his children and grandchildren by building lego models of Harley Davidson’s, etc. He liked to tell stories of pranks he would play on his friends. One of his favorites was pranking a good friend by filling his bathtub with jello. 

Charlie loved spending time with family, He shared memories of his military time by purchasing an old army jeep, restoring it and spending time traveling around McCurtain County with his kids and grandkids. He spent hours in the pool with the grandkids or pulling them in a wagon behind the lawn mower.

He enjoyed spending time at the Senior Citizens Center visiting with friends and playing dominoes or trying to Bingo.  

Charlie is survived by his sisters Patsy Butler of Idabel and Thelma Russell of Oklahoma City. Daughter and Son-in-law, Cheryl and Jerry Privett of Norman, OK. Daughter, Judy Weggesser of Moore, OK. Grand children: Jennifer Privett of Norman, James Earnheart and family of Haslet, TX, Ryan Earnheart and family of North Carolina, William, Nate, and Nik Weggesser of Moore, OK. Doris Minyard, sister-in-law, of Broken Bow, OK. Nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

A Celebration of Charlie's Life will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 on Friday, August 26, 2022 at the White Family Funeral Home in Idabel, OK.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the City of Idabel and in the memo please write Idabel Nutrition Center. If you would like to mail a check or money order, please address it to City of Idabel, PO Box 402, Idabel, OK 74745.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charlie Earnheart, please visit our floral store.