Charles W. McKinney, 85, a long time Peru, Inc., resident, died April 24, 2016, in Rochester, Ind. He was born in Peru on April 6, 1931, to the late Wellington and Hazel McGinness McKinney.
He married Shirley Jean Eberle on Sept. 10, 1950, and she preceded him in death on Nov. 3, 1990. He married Joyce Hight on Jan. 10, 1993, and she survives.
He was a businessman in Peru, owning and operating McKinney’s Inc., a TV and Appliance dealer from 1954 until 1974. Beginning in 1980, he was Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of the Wabash Valley Bank and Trust Co., until his retirement in 1990.
Throughout his careers, he was active in Peru and was aggressive in commercial real estate development, building and leasing many commercial buildings. He was also very active in industrial expansion in Peru.
He served on the Boards of Directors of the Wabash Valley Bank and Trust Co., Mount Hope Cemetery Association, First of America Bank, Wabash Valley, The Bayport Beach & Tennis Club and the Peru Industrial Development Corporation. He served on the Board of Trustees of Dukes Memorial Hospital from 1979 until 1991 and as chairman of the board for 10 of those years. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Peru and served in various capacities including president of the congregation from 1969 until 1981. Also, he was a member of the Peru Maennerchor, the Peru Moose and many other civic organizations. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1951 until 1954.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce; children, Ron (Joyce) McKinney, Sarasota, Fla., Dr. Jon (Meg) McKinney, Lake Geneva, Pam McKinney, Logansport, Ind., Jill (Andrew) Conner, Terre Haute, Ind.; grandchildren, Sarah and Alva Perry, Kyle, Emily and Eric McKinney and Isabelle, Charlie, Theo and Henry Conner; and a sister, Barbara Moore, Danville, Ind.
When Mr. McKinney and Joyce were married in 1993, he acquired another loving, caring and supportive family. These included a son, Chuck (Michele) Hight, Peru, along with grandchildren, Abbi, Kayde, Jay (Kayleigh), and great-grandchildren, Kristen, Haley Jo and Brantley; a daughter, Nancy (Larry) Easterday, grandson Rich (Maggi) Easterday, and great-grandchildren, Megan and Mason; granddaughter, Heather (Cory) Chilcutt, great-grandchildren, Kyndal Wheetley, Gabryella and Caiden.
He was further preceded in death by siblings, Gweneth Saylor, Eloise McKinney, Kathryn Hann, Jack McKinney and Wayne McKinney.
A Service of Praise, celebrating his life is Friday, April 29, at 11 a.m., at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 181 W. Main St., Peru, with the Rev. Kenneth Greenwald officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery with Military Honors provided by members of the Miami County Military Rites Unit. Friends may call at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 W. Main St., Peru, from 2-7 p.m., Thursday, April 28.
Memorial donations may be made through the funeral home to the St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Well-wishers can visit www.eddyfuneralhomes.com.
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