Charles Derwood Cameron of El Dorado, Arkansas passed away at the age of 93 at Shreveport, Louisiana on January 7, 2019. He was born September 5, 1925 in Union County, near Wesson, Arkansas. Charles was the son of the late Charles Eugene and Cornelia “Pat” McKinnon Cameron, both members of Pioneer Families of Union County.
Charles attended school at the nearby Wesson School and was drafted into the United States Army while a high school senior in 1943. After Charles finished basic training at Bend, Oregon, he was assigned to the Tenth Armored Division of the Third Army under General George Patton. His unit was soon sent to the European Theater where he served in a number of battles in Europe including the Battle of the Bulge. Charles was honorably discharged with a rank of Sergeant in 1946. He was awarded the uropean–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and 3 Overseas Bars.
Charles was a 1948 graduate of Magnolia A & M College earning an Associate Degree in Arts and furthered his education at The National Trade School at Kansas City, Missouri where he received his degree in Architectural Drafting in 1948 and in Architectural Engineering Drafting in 1949. Later in 1949, Charles returned to El Dorado where he joined the firm of John B Abbott Architecture and qualified to be an Associate, American Institute of Architects. Charles continued with the firm until retirement in 2009.
Charles was a member of the First United Methodist Church in El Dorado. He was kindness personified, a devoted husband, loved big band music, fly fishing, good south Arkansas cooking, the Razorbacks, morning coffee with friends, storytelling, road trips to the Gulf Coast, Jeopardy and morning drives to the country where he grew up. He was a member of the historical society, The Sons of the American Revolution.
Charles was preceded in death by his brother, James “Gus” Graydon Cameron.
Charles is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Billie Raphiel Cameron of El Dorado, Arkansas; nephew, Ken Cameron and wife Julie, their children, Jennifer, Christopher, Lisa, and David; nephew, Charles Cameron and wife Carol and their children James and Laurel; niece, Cindy Cameron Wadsworth and husband Richard and their children, Cameron and Carson June; sister-in-laws, Martha Sue Raphiel and Earline Sturdivant Cameron; cousins, Ron Ponder and wife Carol and their sons, Scott and Jeff, and Paula Raines and husband Ed and their daughter, Morgan, and John Fullenwider.
Charles’ family would like to offer a special thank you to the Willis-Knighton Pierremont ICU staff and caregivers in Shreveport, Louisiana and to the emergency room staff at the Medical Center of South Arkansas. Also, a special thank you to the Fire Station 3 personnel in El Dorado, Arkansas.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations may be made to The Pleasant Hill Cemetery Fund at Regions Bank, El Dorado Main, 100 East Peach Street, El Dorado, AR 71730.
At the request of the deceased, there will not be a funeral or memorial service. At a later date, Mr. Cameron’s remains will be buried in the family plot at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Wesson, Arkansas.