Charles Harper

Charles Patrick Harper, 81, of Vilonia, Arkansas passed away on August 12, 2025, after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1943 to Sybil and Pat Harper. Charles was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Raymond Harper, Gracie Harper, Darlene Harper, Jo Harper, Kathy Fulmer, Paul Harper, Don Byrd, Margie Arnett, and Marlene Bryan.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lynda Heslep Harper; his son, Richard Harper; his daughter-in-law, Marjoree Harper; daughter, Tracy Eckroth; twin sons Scott and Steve Harper; his grandchildren: Kameron Eckroth, Kaitlin Eckroth, Madison Harper, Patrick Harper and Ophelia Harper; as well as his last surviving brother, Vic Harper and a host of nieces and nephews.

Charles attended Fort Gibson High School where he played football, baseball, and basketball. He was the first quarterback for the Fort Gibson Tigers and was later inducted into the Fort Gibson High School Hall of Fame.

Early in his life, Charles found a fascination with road and bridge construction, which led to a long and distinguished career in that industry. He had a hand in building roads and bridges in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. If you have driven in Louisiana, there is a good chance that you have driven on one of his projects. “Mr. Charlie”, as he was commonly referred to by those who worked with him at James Construction, was admired for his hard work, dedication, integrity and attention to detail on each project.

Whether you knew him as Dad, Pawpaw, Mr. Charlie, Paw, or Butch, you knew he was always willing to help anyone with anything—whether fixing a vehicle, repairing a project around the house, loaning a tool, sharpening knives, or simply holding a ladder, he was there to lend a hand.

His loved ones will certainly miss afternoon porch sitting with him, listening to his construction stories, hearing him good-naturedly fuss about the Oklahoma Sooners, Arkansas Razorbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals, and listening to John Prine and Iris Dement songs with him.

A memorial service to honor his life will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Vilonia, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude’s or to the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute – Multiple Myeloma Center.