Industry Veteran Charlie McKinney Dies at 91

September 7, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Obituaries on September 8, 2011

Furniture industry veteran Charles Harmon McKinney died Monday at age 91 after a brief illness.

McKinney was born Jan. 11, 1920, in Selma, Ala.. He entered the U.S. Army in 1941 and fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Southern France and Belgium with the 509 Parachute Battalion and earned the Silver Star in Italy. During his 20 years of service in the Army, he earned the rank of major, a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and was an honored member of the 82nd Airborne Division.

After retiring from the Army, his second career was working in management in the furniture industry. He began as vice president of sales for United/Burlington Furniture. He then joined Dixie Furniture as vice president of international sales, working also in product sourcing and marketing throughout the transition of the company to Lexington Furniture Industries. Charlie was an excellent golfer and enjoyed the game at every opportunity.

Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Estelle Smyly McKinney; son, Charles Douglas McKinney; grandson, Charles Michael McKinney of Winston-Salem; and nieces Peggy Johnson and Alice Swink.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church, W. 3rd Ave. in Lexington, N.C., where he was a member. A private burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. The family will receive friends after the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Lexington, P.O. Box 436, Lexington, NC 27293 or to a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made here.