Charles Glenn Gunnoe

Charles Glenn Gunnoe, age 95, of Wilson, NC formerly of MacArthur, WV passed away Thursday, April 9, 2026.

He was raised in Hinton and Beckley, WV. While living in MacArthur, WV, and attending Bethel Free Will Baptist Church, he met and married Velma Brooks.

After saving money, they purchased two lots on Bethel Road in MacArthur, WV, and with the help of his father-in-law, S. C. Brooks and others, he built a three bedroom house on the property. In April of 1960, with two boys and a toddler girl, they moved into their new house where a few years later, the fourth child, a second daughter would be born.

In later years, it became obvious that mom was experiencing memory problems. He once said, "She took care of me when I needed her, now I'm going to take care of her;" and he did. She stayed in the home she loved until within a week or so of her passing. He took excellent care of her.

Charles worked at Beaver Planning Mill in Beaver, and later did construction work for Oscar Vecillo Construction of Beckley, where he worked on constructing the original Valley Drive in Beckley. He worked for French and Combs Construction in MacArthur, Crab Orchard Coal Mine, McAlpin Coal Mine and East Gulf Coal Mine. He later worked as a laborer, an electrician, a large truck driver, and a bull dozer operator, and finally retired in 1992.

Charles and his wife Velma attended Bethel Free Will Baptist Church in MacArthur, where they had met, and he eventually led the church choir which sang in many churches in the area. Charles, Velma, Gordon Gregg and Corky McGuire would later form a quarter called the Bethelaires. The most requested song, "Keep Walking," was appreciated by so many. Charles would later go on to direct the choirs at Sprague Free Will Baptist Church, Open Door Church in Shady Spring, and Bradley Free Will Baptist Church.

Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Velma Brooks Gunnoe, father, Alton Victor Gunnoe, mother, Mamie Lee Thompson Gunnoe, brothers, Lewis Gunnoe, George Gunnoe and Bill Gunnoe, also his great granddaughter Emorie Fox.

Those left to cherish his memory include sons, Larry Glenn (Becky Bishop) Gunnoe, their son Anthony Glenn Gunnoe, Harnett County, NC. Wayne Gunnoe (Joan Sweat, deceased), Greenville, NC, their daughter Tiffany (Peter) Bridger, Farmville, NC, daughters Kathy Gunnoe (Rusty) Russell, Wilson, NC, their daughter Jennifer (Keith) Hartsell, children Riley, Grayson and Boone Kim Gunnoe (Ray) Fox, Pendleton County, WV, their sons Jonathan (Hillary) Fox, their children Karson, Aryan, Kaide and Emorie (deceased); and Hayden (Katelyn) Fox, their children Maverick and Maisyn. A special adopted daughter Pat Hensley, Beckley. WV, sisters Fern Gunnoe (Earl, deceased) Johnson, Hampton, VA and Joyce Gunnoe (Billy, deceased) Folk, Cordova, SC.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at the Amos E. Quesenberry Peace Chapel of Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley, WV. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity, WV. Friend may visit with the family from 12 PM until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net .

Arrangements are by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, 1901 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV.