Mr. Charles F. Rish, 83, of Fernandina Beach passed away unexpectedly Saturday, October 14, 2017.
Born in Coffee County, Ga., he lived in Denton, Ga. until he graduated from high school and joined the U.S. Air Force.
He was a son of the late Asel and Lula Dockery Rish. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his brother, Leonard, in 1997.
Sometime in high school, he was noticed by a certain young lady, and after returning home from the Air Force, he would marry that certain young lady, Eloise Harrell. For over 59 years he and Eloise would together make a life, a home and raise a family.
He and Eloise lived in Garden City, Ga. for 12 years and then moved to Fernandina Beach, where they would still be some 43 years later. While in Fernandina Beach, he would begin his career with Container Corporation as an electrician and continued there until his retirement. That skill as an electrician also led him into his pastime of tinkering and repairing whatever needed to be fixed. As many people of the same age, Charles could not stand to throw something away when it broke and would always try to repair it.
When not working, Charles always kept himself busy. His family knew him as a hard working man who, when not tinkering with something, was either working in the yard as he loved to do or just “piddling.” He never seemed to stand still. His family believes that constant activity was why he was the leanest fellow they knew and could out eat any of his growing boys while never seeming to put on any weight. He would even chide those around him to go back and get more to eat.
All who knew him would say he was the most considerate, kind and generous person they had ever met. He would do anything for anyone and never expect a single thing in return. His family knew him as a “Good Man”, the best any of them had ever known. Above all of that, they all knew they had the best father in the world.
His surviving family includes his wife, Eloise H. Rish; two sons, Kevin Rish of Savannah, Ga. and Jason Rish and his wife, Laura, of Kingston, Tenn.; a daughter, Donna Rish Caquelin and her husband, Dale, of Kingston, Tenn.; five sisters, Shirley Bolden and her husband, Rueben, of Fernandina Beach, Barbara Jean Shuman and her husband, W.A., of Hazlehurst, Ga. , Lucille Lambert and her husband, Ed, of Arkansas, Emily Merritt and her husband, John, of Atlanta, Ga., and Shelia Vickers and her husband, Mike, of White Oak, Ga.; three brothers, Asel Rish Jr., Murphy Rish and Anthony Rish, all of Broxton, Ga.; nine grandchildren and numerous other extended family members.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 17, 2017 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors with Pastor Carey Hendricks officiating. The family received friends for the hour prior to the service. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at Hillcrest Abbey West Cemetery, 1336 Dean Forest Road, Savannah, Ga.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors