Charles A. Mastin, Sr.

Charles Andrew Mastin, Sr., the last of a generation, departed to be with our Lord Sunday, August 21, 2016 at the age of 90.

There will be a graveside service at 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 26, 2016 at Avon Cemetery in Des Moines.

Charles was born June 28, 1926 in Mill Grove, Missouri to John and Josie (Dillard) Mastin. At about six months old, he came to Iowa in a horse-drawn wagon with his parents, his sister, and two brothers. They made their home in Corydon, Iowa. He grew up during the depression years. He learned valuable life lessons working hard for low wages with his father and brother doing roofing, brick laying, building chimneys and Dutch ovens, painting houses and barns, and even washing windows. He would do anything to help his family make it through. Charles was drafted several times in the World War II era, but was classified as 4-F and excused from service because of a tremor in his hands.

He met his lovely wife, Ruth Evelyn (McCarty) in August of 1948 at a carnival called Old Settlers in Corydon, Iowa. They were married on December 30, 1948 and lived together for 65 years until she passed in 2012. They had four children and raised three (they lost the oldest at three days old.) They made their home between Corydon, Iowa, Englewood, California, and Des Moines, Iowa, where they fulfilled their lives for the last 55 years. Charles retired from Boss's Hotel Savery in downtown Des Moines in the late 1960s.

He is now together with his wife, Ruth Evelyn; their oldest daughter, Ruth Louise Mastin; his parents, John and Josie Mastin; his older sister, Elsie Packs; and his brothers, Clarance Mastin and Francis Mastin who precede him in death.

Survivors include son, Charles “Chuck” Jr. (wife, Sharlotte); daughter, Elsie Lucille Karns; daughter, Kathy Kay Dawson; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

For a man who only had a 5th grade education, he was very knowledgeable and kept his family going all these years. Charles loved to hunt and fish. These were his favorite hobbies. He loved to collect clocks too. The more noise they made, the happier he was! He helped bring his children up in an old fashioned world with a few modern ideas. He was the patriarch of a very close and loving family with old fashioned values that will carry on to the next generations yet to come.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family in loving memory of Charles.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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