Charles Edward “Charlie” Boone


                           


                        

The West Virginia State CCC Museum Association is proud to announce the induction of Charlie Boone into the 2012 WVCCCMA Hall of Fame.  The induction took place at the Spring Reunion, April 14, 2012 during ceremonies at the Quiet Dell United Methodist Church. Mr. Boone was a life member of the CCC museum association. Charles attended many museum association events faithfully until he recently fell into ill health. 

Charlie, as he was affectionately called, was born at Kerens, West Virginia, April 11, 1919. The hamlet of Kerens is located six and one half miles northeast of Elkins, West Virginia. He was the son of the late George William and Lonia Price Boone. He was proud to be a direct descendent of the famed Daniel Boone.

Our beloved honoree was also very proud of his service in the CCC at Camp Seneca, Randolph County, West Virginia. He was well remembered as an accomplished musician on seven different musical instruments including the dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, and keyboard. Charles entertained the CCC boys at camp during his stay 1936-1938.  He worked on the construction of picturesque Lake Seneca, built fire trails, helped put out forest fires, and did some cooking at camp.

Boone related several stories of his times in the CCC to Dr. Robert Anderson. Anderson described a harrowing incident that in the dead of Winter, 1936 the barracks in which he was sleeping caught on fire. In order to save his life, Charlie barely made it out by jumping through the burning walls into the heavy snowbank. And he helped save the lives of several of his fellow CCC boys. In another story, Charlie could reel off the names of the U.S. Presidents in order forward and backwards. Another story goes like this: Charlie's sister Wilma was a very exceptional person and much loved. She fell asleep with the headphones playing on one of the first radios in those parts. She woke up hearing someone talking in her ear and thought it was a ghost. Wilma passed during her youth.

A dear friend of the CCC and our Honoree, Mrs. Cleo Rollins of Nutter Fort, West Virginia, remembers Charlie as a kind, talented, and caring person. He loved his home in the mountains and the State of West Virginia. But he had a keener love for Jesus Christ. “I would accompany Charlie sometimes when he would visit the Veteran's Hospital in Clarksburg, (West Virginia). He had a marvelous voice and would serenade the CCC vets and other vets with special songs from a rare hymn book known as the 'Book of Sad Songs'” she continued. “He gave much comfort and encouragement to the sick and hopeless with those hymns of old. One of his favorites was the Christian ballad Looking This Way.


Mr. Boone served his country with valor during World War II in the Italian Campaign. He received several medals for his honorable service. After the war he was an active member of the Meuse-Argonne Post 573, VFW, Clarksburg, West Virginia. He was a member of the Shinnston, West Virginia senior citizens, whom he entertained occasionally, and was a faithful member of the West Virginia State CCC Museum Association.

Our Hall of Famer as expressed before, had a deep love for Jesus Christ. He was a member of the Methodist Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Charles lived with his nephew and his wife in Lumberport, West Virginia.  Charlie went to be with the Dear Lord, June 12, 2012 at the age of 93. He was buried with full military services at the Shinnston Masonic Cemetery, West Virginia.










Charlie at the Spring 2011 Reunion with Mrs. Cleo Rollins.