Charles Lawrence Stephens

Charles Lawrence Stephens, 90, of Toledo, Ohio, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, April 2, 2010. He was born in Toledo on June 20, 1919, to John and Florence Stephens, the youngest of three boys. He attended St. Johns High School and graduated from Devilbiss High School in 1937. He worked his way through college at the University of Toledo playing drums in local swing bands. He met Eleanor Martin at a freshman mixer dance and the two were married in 1941. They both graduated seven months later. He was drafted into the Army upon graduation. With his Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, he served as a Company Clerk for an artillery unit that saw action in the South Pacific during World War II. He was awarded 4 bronze stars, 3 in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre and 1 in the Philippine Liberation. He returned to Toledo and his wife, working first at the Merchants Finance Company. In 1953, he struck out on his own, becoming one of the first franchise owners ever for Manpower Inc., a then-fledgling national temporary help agency, a business he continued to manage, grow and advise throughout the years. Charlie was a long-time member of the Toledo Rotary Club, and played drums with a Rotary Dixieland Jazz Band that entertained at Club picnics. He was one of the founders of the Toledo Sertoma Club, and was a proud member of American Legion Toledo Post #335. He and Eleanor were among the founding members of the Coverly Dinner Dance Group. He love music, especially swing and dixieland jazz music, and could not listen to music without pounding out the beat with his hands and feet. Charlie and his family enjoyed many lazy summer weekends at their cottage on Devils Lake near Jackson, Michigan, waterskiing and floating on innertubes for hours. He loved taking long walks on the beach in Sarasota, Florida during the winter months. He is survived by his beloved wife, Eleanor; his children, Mark and Sally; his grandchildren, Mark Jr., John, Stacey, Greg, Teri and Tim, and nine great-grand-children. He was greatly loved and will be forever missed. Friends may visit the family on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. west of Corey Rd.. Services will be private. Interment will take place at Toledo Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Toledo Rotary Foundation, One Stranahan Square, Suite 246, Toledo, OH 43604 or Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, 333 N. Summit St., P.O. Box 10086, Toledo, OH 43699. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.walkerfuneralhomes.com