Charles E. Strode

Charles E. Strode, 83, of Tompkinsville, KY passed away Monday, March 21st, at Monroe County Medical Center.

Charles was born in Monroe County, KY on August 28, 1938, a son of the late Opal (Tooley) and Esta Strode.

On February 2, 1963, he married Dixie (Proffitt) Strode. Dixie preceded him in death on November 21, 2007.

Charles graduated from Tompkinsville High School in 1956. He served in the National Guard for six years.

Charles became a Kentucky Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in 1959. He started his career at John Edd Yokley Funeral Home in the early 1960's. In November 1966 he started what was Strode Lyons Funeral Home. It then became Strode Funeral Home, where he served the Monroe County Community for 52 years. Charles was elected as the Monroe County Coroner for 29 years. He served on the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers for the State of Kentucky and served as President of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky during his career.

Charles is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Charlotte and Dr. Steven Birge, of Tompkinsville, KY;  two grandchildren, Austin, and wife, Kelly Dean Birge, of Lamb, KY and Bailey, and husband, Barrett Billingsley, of Glasgow, KY; three great grandchildren, Addison Kate Birge, Boone and Bear Billingsley; and a special friend, Cecile Boyles, of Gamaliel, KY.
 
Charles is also survived by a sister, Beatrice  Emberton, of Tompkinsville, KY.

Other than his wife, Dixie Strode, and parents, Esta and Opal Strode he is preceded in death by two brothers, Carley Short and Claude Strode.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, March 25th at Yokley Trible Funeral Home in Tompkinsville, KY with burial to follow at Gamaliel Cemetery.

Visitation is Thursday, 4-8 PM, and Friday, 8:00 AM until service time at 1:00 PM, at Yokley Trible Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Charles' memory may be made to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library or Gamaliel Cemetery.

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