"Are we having fun yet?" These words will always be associated with Charles "Charlie" Shepherd who had a smile, a joke, and a caring nature for others for every situation that came his way. Charlie finally lost his long and courageous battle to cancer on Wednesday, September 19, at home with his loving family, friends, and dog surrounding him. He was born on July 26, 1948 to Harlan Dale Shepherd and Betty Lee (Sayre) Shepherd in Topeka, Kansas. After many moves with his military family, Charlie settled for good in Indianapolis where he enjoyed a full life, first in marriage to Charlotte Hayden, who passed away in 1985, and then with wife, Patricia Rosek. Together they raised their two children, Benjamin and Rachel, in Franklin Township until Pat's death in 1995.
As a single dad, Charlie never lost that unique perspective on life nor his ability to make and keep friends. He worked for many years and retired from Computer Science Corporation as an associate field technician. He loved to form and express opinions on all subjects, watch and collect movies, read his Bible every night, wait for Mackenzie to get off the bus each day, and always be there for his family and friends.
Charlie is survived by his loving children: Rachel of Indianapolis; Benjamin of Franklin; granddaughter: Mackenzie; brother: Don and his wife Teri; sister: Katie and her husband David; sister-in-law: Lynnette Curtis-Purcell; step-son: Darrell Cox and his wife Marty; and the love of his life: Carol Skiver. Charlie made and kept friends wherever his journey took him, and many were by his side until the end, along with his dog, Patches.
Visitation for Charles Shepherd will be on September 28 from 4 - 8 P.M. at Newcomer Indy Chapel, 925 East Hanna Avenue with his funeral services on Saturday, September 29, at 10:00 A.M. Interment will follow at Washington Park North Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a college fund has been set up for granddaughter, Mackenzie.
Charlie always cared more about others than himself. More interested in how you were doing, than how he was doing. Once he established if you were having fun yet, Charlie could sum up life by saying, "Eh, what can I say?" What we can say is that "If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever."