Charles Dale Farmer

WETUMPKA, AL— CW4 Ret Charles Dale Farmer, 59, died Tuesday, September 1, 2009 in Jackson, MS. Funeral service with full military honors will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 5, 2009 at McMullen Funeral Home Chapel, 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA with Rev. Rudy Patton officiating. Interment will follow at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 till 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Farmer was born December 26, 1949 in Springfield, TN son of the late Henry Clay Farmer and Louis Claire Shelburn Farmer.

Charlie attended the University of Tennessee and joined the United States Army in 1970 where he served as a pilot. During his first ten years Charlie was a helicopter pilot where he did a tour of duty in Vietnam. For his last ten years in the military Charlie was a fixed wing pilot completing a tour of duty in Korea.

Charlie was a highly decorated officer receiving many medals including, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, 10 Air Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Service Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Master Army Aviator Badge.

After retiring from the Army after 20 years of service, Charlie continued his lifelong love for flying as a Corporate Pilot for West Point Stevens and Colonial Bank. Charlie had just taken a job as an Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration where he was excited about the new challenges that were laid out ahead of him.