Charles Richard Rommel

The seventh son of Clara Marie (Montgomery) Rommel and Lester Edward Rommel, Charles Richard "Sparky" Rommel was born September 23, 1931 in Cleveland, Oklahoma. He was raised and attended school in Cleveland where he was active in sports, playing both football and basketball with Billy "Curly" Vessels. Charles started school in a little building back of the old Palace Drug School, which at time was the American Legion. The current school, located on north Delaware was being constructed at that time. While attending school he worked at the Cleveland American from 1945 until his graduation in 1950. After graduation, Sparky accepted a position with the local lumberyard, Benson Lumber Company until he was drafted in 1952. He was married to Betty Ruth Sparks on December 12, 1952 at the First Baptist Church in Cleveland, shortly after completion of boot camp in the United States Army. Charles actually spent nearly 120 days in the U. S. Army Hospital at Fort Bliss, Texas before staring basic training. Upon completion of basic training, Charles was shipped to Camp Stoneman in Pittsburg, California awaiting sea duty. PFC Rommel later served in Korea for a tour of duty before being released from active duty and returning to Cleveland on October 18, 1954. Charles received the following decorations and commendations for his service to his country, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Charles was promoted to manager of Benson Lumber Company in March of 1955 and was instrumental in supplying lumber and building supplies for the construction of the Hillside Garden sub-division, overseeing the construction of nearly twenty homes. Over the next ten years, Sparky assisted in the development of two other housing divisions in Cleveland, Martin Addition and the Benson Addition. During this time, Charles served as Adjutant and Post Commander of the American Legion, Everett Taylor Post #3 here in Cleveland. Additionally, he was an active member of the Cleveland Kiwanis Club. For several years, he was a coach of the little league baseball team sponsored by the Kiwanis. He was also an active member of the First Baptist Church where he was a Sunday School teacher for the younger boys of the church. In 1965, Charles left Benson Lumber Company and purchased the Decorating Center. He owned and operated this for nearly three years before going to work for the Oklahoma Department of Industrial Development; traveling all over the state, visiting cities and towns with populations over 500 collecting data and determining how many Oklahomans were involved in outdoor recreation. In March of 1968, Charles was assigned to the Feyodi Recreation Area in Cleveland to oversea the construction of the park area and then also at Walnut Creek State Park, near Prue. During this time, Charles was instrumental in the reorganization of the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Cleveland and served as Scoutmaster and Den Master for nearly three years. In 1971, Charles began working for the Department of Urban Development in Oklahoma City. He again traveled all over the state of Oklahoma working as a construction analyst providing residential cost data for the building of single family homes and apartment projects. Additionally, he worked with the Public Housing and Indian Housing Authority to provided safe, decent and sanitary housing for the people of Oklahoma. He worked out of the Tulsa HUD office, with his home office being the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Charles had worked with nearly all of the thirty-five employees of HUD that where killed in the Oklahoma City Bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. After a short retirement in 1991, Charles began doing some consultant work for the Housing Authority in 1994 and has continued to be active in that capacity for the past several years. Charles was instrumental along his friend, Emile Bayouth in the design and fund raising efforts of the Cleveland War Memorial at Feyodi Park and was recognized with a bench in his honor during the dedication ceremony. He has remained active in the pursuit of funding for a memorial chapel to be constructed at a later date at the site of the memorial. Charles passed away on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at his home in Cleveland at the age of seventy-nine. He is survived by his wife of nearly fifty-eight years , Betty Ruth Rommel of the home; two sons, Richard Lane "Ric" and his wife, Karen Rommel of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Robert Lynn "Rob" and his wife, Debbie of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Cory Lynn and Trey Alex Rommel. He was preceded in death by parents, Lester Edward and Clara Marie Rommel; six brothers, Albert Geary "Big Sparky" Rommel, Thomas Franklin "Jack" Rommel, Howard Paul "Bow" Rommel, Karl Edward "Benny" Rommel, Maynard Carol Rommel and Lester Robert "Bill" Rommel.