Dr. Charles Francis Ernst Jr., 84, the eldest of four children of Charles and Juanita Ernst, was born July 10, 1922, in St. Louis. He died June 3, 2007, at Southeast Missouri Hospital at Cape Girardeau.
Dr. Ernst graduated from Kirkwood High School and Westminster College. He attended Washington University Medical School in St. Louis and School of Optometry at the University of Chicago, Ill.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, was an active hero volunteer blood donor for the American Red Cross, donating 280 units through Nov. 10, 2004. He was a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge #177 AF and AM of Houston, serving as worshipful master six times. He was a member of the Kirkwood Lodge #484, serving as worshipful master in 1977, district deputy grand lecturer, 48th district from 1999 to 2000 and member of St. Mark’s Lodge in Cape Girardeau, also as past master.
He taught rapid reading for the University of Missouri-Rolla and was a member of Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir and served on the building committee.
Dr. Ernst was an optometrist for more than 60 years in the Cape Girardeau and Houston areas.
He married Roberta Eicher in 1948. She preceded him in death in November 1991. He married Marilyn Cook in December 1992.
He enjoyed quail hunting, canoeing on the Jacks Fork and Current rivers, bird watching, golfing, swimming, bridge playing and gardening.
Surviving are his wife; three children, Flicky Christie of Ballwin, Sunny Dearing of Lacy, Wash., and Chip Ernst of Williams, Ariz.; two stepchildren, Kelly Abbott of Jackson and Jeff Cronenbold of Cape Girardeau; two brothers, William Ernst of Omaha, Neb., and James Ernst of Kirkwood; one sister, Meme Schantz of Laguna Niguel, Calif.; five grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial and Masonic services were June 6 at the Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Janet Hopkins officiating under the direction of Ford and Sons Funeral Home. Burial was with full military honors by the Missouri Honor Team and VFW Post 3838.
Memorials may be made to the Hobbs Chapel Untied Methodist Church or American Red Cross.
