Charles H Bliss was born January 6, 1932 in Shirley, Arkansas.
Named after one of his uncles, Charles was given the nickname “Dutch” by another uncle early in life.
Dutch was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Chester and Pauline (Brown) Bliss,
and his wife Ruth Ellen (Ridling) Bliss.
He is survived by his 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 10
great-grandchildren: Gyda (Bliss) Lane, her children David & Jenifer Dipboye, grandchildren Luther David, Karis Lynnette and Adelynn Bliss.
Ouida Jane Bliss & Dennis Richardson, their children Rachel Lea Wallace & Boone Buckley, grandson Augustus Brooks Wallace Buckley; Mary Ruth (Wallace) & Jeremy Muse; Stephen Richardson; Jonathan & Andrea Richardson.
Charles Hilton & Liz (Taylor) Bliss their children Daniel & Holly Palmer, grandson Landon; Taylor (Parrish) Chesnut and grandchildren MacKenzie Hitchcock, Kassidy Chesnut and Gracie Chesnut.
Jon Ethan & Shelly (Whisenhunt) Bliss, their children Katy Ellen (Bliss) & Andrew Brown and grandson Tucker Brown; Emma Claire (Bliss) & Brandon Plute and grandson Wesley Plute; Madison Nicole Bliss and Jacob Ethan Bliss.
Dutch is also survived by his brother Harold Bliss and wife MaryBell, sister Jo Caroline (Bliss) Bobbitt, sister-in-law Serena (Ridling) Holt; and numerous nieces, nephews, great- and great-great- nieces and nephews in both the Bliss and Ridling families who lovingly call him Uncle Dutch. He was preceded in death by his nephew Bruce Bobbitt.
Dutch grew up in Shirley roaming the woods and creeks of Van Buren County with his many Bliss and Brown family cousins, aunts and uncles. He was also an avid fisherman, hunter and ball player. He loved math, mechanical devices and working with wood.
In July, 1944 the Bliss family moved to Waldron, Arkansas. At the age of 12 Dutch started 8th grade then graduated with honors from Waldron HS. He enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War and served as a Machinist Mate 2ndClass on the USS Sproston DD/DDE. After his honorable discharge he bought the Gulf Service Station in Waldron and began courting the love of his life, Ruth Ellen Ridling. They were married in the Methodist Church on October 16, 1955.
Ruth and Dutch moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1956 where he began work as an auxiliary turbine operator for the Tulsa Power Station of Public Service Company of Oklahoma (now an AEP company). Known there by many of his co-workers as Charlie, he worked his way up to Operations Superintendent and retired in 1988.
Life in Tulsa was full of family and friends, church and school, work and play. Dutch and Ruth raised four children, encouraging them through opportunity and example to be musicians and athletes, scouts and scholars; to be hardworking, respectful, considerate, and helpful. Dutch was scout master and baseball coach, teacher and mentor, for his own kids and countless others. He and Ruth never missed a concert, Court of Honor, ballgame, play or program their children participated in. Dutch could fix anything and his garage and workshop were always open to whoever needed him. He took his family on amazing vacations all over the United States yet managed to show the wonders right there in the backyard.
After retiring, Dutch and Ruth returned to Waldron to build their dream home. They were constantly active with their children and grandchildren, continued to be involved in the United Methodist Church, and loved traveling, camping, and visiting friends and family. Dutch always had a project fixing, building, or creating, especially something beautiful out of wood.
Dutch and Ruth enjoyed life to the full. But Dutch slowed down when Ruth became ill. He was her constant caregiver through many years of decline until Ruth’s untimely death in 2007. He missed her terribly, but continued to “be there” for his grandchildren, helped with the food project at the church, roamed around with his faithful canine companion Tobias, and created more beautiful things with wood. Life was pretty good, but after so many years it seems like Dutch just couldn’t wait any longer to be with Ruth again.
Celebration of Life for Charles H “Dutch” Bliss will be 10:00 am Thursday, October 19, 2023 at the Waldron United Methodist Church, officiated by David Dipboye. Interment will follow in Sehorn Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Pallbearers are David Dipboye, Daniel Palmer, Stephen Richardson, Jacob Bliss, Andrew Brown, and William Maxell.
Dutch’s visitation will be Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 5:00-7:00pm at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
