Obituary for Chuck Harrod
Charles Warren Harrod was born on November 13, 1935, in Yates Center, KS, to Cleo E. “Pete” and Laurene (Johnston) Harrod. He was the first of three brothers. He spent his childhood in Yates Center hunting and fishing with his brothers Lauren and Les and his Uncle Phil Johnston, who was more of a big brother. He excelled in football, basketball, and track while at Yates Center High School, where he still holds the school record for the 180 yard low hurdles. He graduated from high school in 1953. CW went to Washburn University in Topeka on a football and track scholarship. He excelled in track, where, as a freshman, he was in a four-way tie for first place in the pole vault in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference. His academic achievements were not so strong, and after one year, he enlisted in the Navy.
CW served in the Navy from 1954 to 1958, where he made many lifelong friends. He served in wartime (the Korean Conflict) but saw no combat. He was a flight navigator, which sparked his love for flight and engineering. One of his favorite “war stories” tells of the time he and a buddy went into what was called French Morocco. He and his friend were struck on the head by two locals and robbed. Another was the time his plane was chased by a Russian reconnaissance aircraft when they flew into Russian airspace. After his service, CW enrolled in Emporia State Teachers’ College, where he pursued (and received this time) a degree in physics. During his final year, he met Joyce Ann Bowling, a nurse. (You know her as Annie.) CW ultimately asked for Annie’s hand in marriage. The answer was yes, but only if CW graduated and obtained employment. Fortunately for all, CW did graduate and obtained work at Boeing in Wichita, in February of 1962. They were married on February 24, 1962, one week after CW began his new career. CW and Annie were blessed with two amazing sons, Gordon, born in December of 1965, and Greg, who arrived in October of 1967. CW left Boeing in 1970 after rumors of lay-off. He obtained work at Cessna, where he was promptly layed off. He then tried his hand at insurance sales and computer programming, but (returned ultimately to Cessna, where he remained until his retirement in 1997.
Shortly after retiring, CW became a grandfather for the first time when Sarah was born in November of 1997. Grandson Eric was born in September of 2001. CW and Annie took many trips with Gordon and Greg as well as friends and family. Destinations included many trips to Las Vegas, many float trips in Missouri, trips to Florida, Texas, New Orleans, New Mexico, Nova Scotia, and California. They also spent a number of springtimes at college track meets throughout Kansas and the Midwest watching Gordon and Greg compete. A highlight for CW was the annual pheasant hunting trip to western Kansas. This tradition spans 60+ years and continues to this day. He also enjoyed the annual Pete E Harrod Memorial Fishing Trip, named after CW’s father. This is every July and also continues on. Both provided lifetime stories; some incredible and perhaps some better left only to those participating. CW and Annie spent thirty years, a lot of it retired, traveling back and forth from their Wichita home to Lagniappe (Cajun for “something extra”), their 35-acre “farm” near Toronto, KS. Lagniappe was (and still is) a favorite spot for grandkids Sarah and Eric, where they rode Grandma’s horse (“Stink”), fished, and explored. CW spent his final years battling Alzheimer’s disease. He was cared for by Annie for a number of years; they continued to travel back and forth from Wichita to Toronto on a regular basis until CW’s health worsened. In August of 2023, CW was moved into the Memory Unit at Homestead Nursing Home in El Dorado, KS. His health and memory continued to decline, but he still enjoyed regular visits from family. CW died peacefully in his sleep very early on the morning of November 6, 2023.
Charles Warren Harrod; CW, Charles, Chuck, Chuckles, Warren, Charlie, Dad, and Grandpa, was preceded in death by his parents, brother Les, and uncle Phil Johnston. He is survived by wife Annie of Wichita and Toronto, sons Gordon (Michelle) of Wichita,and Greg, of Monterey Bay, CA. grandchildren Sarah of Portland, OR, and Eric, of Manhattan, KS, brother Lauren (Maggie) Harrod of Yates Center, KS, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association: www.alz.org
CW served in the Navy from 1954 to 1958, where he made many lifelong friends. He served in wartime (the Korean Conflict) but saw no combat. He was a flight navigator, which sparked his love for flight and engineering. One of his favorite “war stories” tells of the time he and a buddy went into what was called French Morocco. He and his friend were struck on the head by two locals and robbed. Another was the time his plane was chased by a Russian reconnaissance aircraft when they flew into Russian airspace. After his service, CW enrolled in Emporia State Teachers’ College, where he pursued (and received this time) a degree in physics. During his final year, he met Joyce Ann Bowling, a nurse. (You know her as Annie.) CW ultimately asked for Annie’s hand in marriage. The answer was yes, but only if CW graduated and obtained employment. Fortunately for all, CW did graduate and obtained work at Boeing in Wichita, in February of 1962. They were married on February 24, 1962, one week after CW began his new career. CW and Annie were blessed with two amazing sons, Gordon, born in December of 1965, and Greg, who arrived in October of 1967. CW left Boeing in 1970 after rumors of lay-off. He obtained work at Cessna, where he was promptly layed off. He then tried his hand at insurance sales and computer programming, but (returned ultimately to Cessna, where he remained until his retirement in 1997.
Shortly after retiring, CW became a grandfather for the first time when Sarah was born in November of 1997. Grandson Eric was born in September of 2001. CW and Annie took many trips with Gordon and Greg as well as friends and family. Destinations included many trips to Las Vegas, many float trips in Missouri, trips to Florida, Texas, New Orleans, New Mexico, Nova Scotia, and California. They also spent a number of springtimes at college track meets throughout Kansas and the Midwest watching Gordon and Greg compete. A highlight for CW was the annual pheasant hunting trip to western Kansas. This tradition spans 60+ years and continues to this day. He also enjoyed the annual Pete E Harrod Memorial Fishing Trip, named after CW’s father. This is every July and also continues on. Both provided lifetime stories; some incredible and perhaps some better left only to those participating. CW and Annie spent thirty years, a lot of it retired, traveling back and forth from their Wichita home to Lagniappe (Cajun for “something extra”), their 35-acre “farm” near Toronto, KS. Lagniappe was (and still is) a favorite spot for grandkids Sarah and Eric, where they rode Grandma’s horse (“Stink”), fished, and explored. CW spent his final years battling Alzheimer’s disease. He was cared for by Annie for a number of years; they continued to travel back and forth from Wichita to Toronto on a regular basis until CW’s health worsened. In August of 2023, CW was moved into the Memory Unit at Homestead Nursing Home in El Dorado, KS. His health and memory continued to decline, but he still enjoyed regular visits from family. CW died peacefully in his sleep very early on the morning of November 6, 2023.
Charles Warren Harrod; CW, Charles, Chuck, Chuckles, Warren, Charlie, Dad, and Grandpa, was preceded in death by his parents, brother Les, and uncle Phil Johnston. He is survived by wife Annie of Wichita and Toronto, sons Gordon (Michelle) of Wichita,and Greg, of Monterey Bay, CA. grandchildren Sarah of Portland, OR, and Eric, of Manhattan, KS, brother Lauren (Maggie) Harrod of Yates Center, KS, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association: www.alz.org