In Memory

Charles Anthony - Class Of 1971 VIEW PROFILE

Charles Anthony

July 19, 1953 - April 18 2015

Ontario

Charlie Anthony, 61, a former longtime resident of Ontario, OR died peacefully, in his sleep, and of natural causes at his home on Camano Island, WA on April 18, 2015. He is survived by his wife Wendy and sons Chuck, JJ and his wife Geri, and Matt. A memorial Mass will be held at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Ontario at 12 PM on Saturday, April 25, and the family will be holding a celebration gathering at the Ontario High School commons on Saturday, April 25 at 1 PM. All who want to celebrate Charlie are welcome to come join the family and share thoughts and stories. In lieu of flowers, Charlie would have wanted any memorial gifts to instead be donations to the Ontario High School wrestling team or another wrestling related organization.

Charlie was born in Ontario, OR on July 19, 1953 to Ray and Anita Anthony. Growing up on the family farm in Vale, OR with his sisters Barb, Kate, and Diana and brother Larry Keeton, Charlie enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming, and sports, activities he continue to enjoy with his family. After graduating from Vale High School in 1971, Charlie attended and wrestled at Eastern Oregon before obtaining his Masters at Portland State. Charlie married Wendy on August 7, 1976, in Portland, OR.

Charlie began his teaching and coaching career in Ridgefield, WA in 1976. Charlie’s Ridgefield High “Spudders” enjoyed great success on the wrestling mat, but to be closer to home, in 1984, Charlie moved back to Malheur County to teach and coach at Ontario High School, where he would work until retiring in 2011.

Charlie was the head wrestling coach of the Tigers during that time, having coached many successful wrestlers and winning the state team title with an undefeated season in 1997. Charlie also coached football at Ontario High, having served primarily as an assistant coach, but also as head coach for a period. Charlie also coached numerous other sports teams his sons participated in throughout their childhoods. In recognition of his career devoted to coaching, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame presented Charlie with its Lifetime Services to Wrestling Award in April 2013.

When he wasn’t coaching, Charlie enjoyed taking his friends and family fishing, hunting for chukars, pheasants, deer, and elk, to various sporting events including rodeos, on trips to Reno, working on projects around the house, and then visiting his children during their college and working years. Charlie also enjoyed traveling and taking his family to national parks, the Olympics, and anywhere else along the way that looked interesting or that may have been a good fishing hole. Charlie also made a point of going to weddings and other events for former students, players, and wrestlers.

In retirement, Charlie and Wendy moved to Whidbey Island, and then later, Camano Island, WA to enjoy the Western Washington scenery, Matt’s track meets, fishing, and, most especially, crabbing for dungeness crab. He also advanced to level 891 on the popular game “Candy Crush” while waiting for crab, shopping, or anything else that involved downtime. Charlie also volunteered as an assistant football coach for Stanwood (WA) High School, while keeping up with Ontario sports and the lives of his former players and wrestlers. Charlie was looking forward to traveling even more in retirement, and he and Wendy recently visited friends in Ecuador and Peru.

Always with the philosophy of a farmer, Charlie’s thoughts on death were that it was a part of life, and that we should all remember the happy times we had with a person as we move on with life. The family thanks the many, many people who have reached out with their thoughts and prayers, and asks that those who knew and were touched by Charlie remember the happy times you had with him.





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