FIRST QUARTER
CHARLES EDWARD SANFORD was the youngest of three children born to Lorene and L. Roy Sanford in San Diego, California on December 15, 1944. He accepted Christ at an early age at Zion Overton Baptist Church in Overton, Texas. While still a youngin’, the family moved to Texas where Charles started his formal education at T.J. Austin Elementary in Tyler. The family decided to relocate back to San Diego where he continued at Chesterson and Stockton Elementary, Memorial Junior High and graduated from San Diego High School with the “Class of 1963”.
SECOND QUARTER
While at San Diego High, Charles became a local high school legend as The Caver’s Football Half-back / Running Back, making the Brietbard All Star Team. However, his true athleticism was displayed in Track and Field; blazing to victory and history in the 180 low hurdles (19.3 seconds) and setting records in the 100-yard dash (9.6) and as part of the 4 x 880 relay team winning the C.I.F. Championship, but missing the national record by just 0.04 seconds. He was elected 1963 C.I.F. San Diego’s Hall of Champions Media Athlete of the Year. After attending Southwestern College, he received a Full Football Scholarship to Kansas State University; but received his Bachelor of Business Administration from National University.
THIRD QUARTER
On July 17, 1966, Charles married his high school sweetheart, Joy Faye Norwood, and to this union a daughter was born. A visionary; Charles always thought outside the box and together they built a life full of love, laughter and adventure. Known as ‘The Dominologist’ he never meet a domino game that he didn’t like. He would invent reasons to host family functions, where he would display his culinary skills to entertain family and friends.
FOURTH QUARTER
A man of many talents, Charles has been called Son, Brother, Friend, Husband, Father, Coach, Instructor, Musician, Mentor, Deacon and Popa. He was employed by General Dynamics for twenty-seven years starting as a machinist and retiring as General Forman for three plants. He coached both football for East San Diego Pop Warner, Valencia Park Pop Warner and baseball for Oak Park Little/Junior Leagues. Charles was also a Blue Print Instructor at San Diego City College. He was an original member of the New Bethel Baptist Singers, which became The Gospel Revelators. A self-taught musician, he played the bass for The Stars of Harmony and at New Bethel Baptist Church, where his father was the pastor.
On the morning of March 27, 2017 at 6:02 A.M. in Austin, Texas, the command was given for Charles to return to his Heavenly Home.
Charles often stated when introducing his “lovely little family” that he had one of everything: One Wife of fifty years Joy Faye; One Daughter, Charmayne both of Pflugerville, TX; One Grandson, Jovan Sanford-Wesley of Spring Valley, CA and one dog Miss Millie of Pflugerville, TX; two aunts Anne, (Calvin) Ross of Sunnyvale, CA and Lillie (Curtis) Riley of San Jose, CA; two uncles, Earl Arterberry of Arp, TX and Richard Arterberry of Oakland, CA; two sisters-in-law, Flora Hill and Shirley Scott both of San Diego, CA and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends to cherish his memory.
Services were held Monday, April 3, 2017 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church; interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Final arrangements entrusted to Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary.
