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Charles Samuel Williams

September 13, 1942 - September 17, 2018

Charles was born Sept. 13, 1942, to Charles Albert Williams and Theresa (Pingitore) Williams. Charles was raised in Rescue, Calif., with his sister and three brothers. He grew up among many aunts and uncles, including Uncle Archie and Aunt Mildred, who loved him as one of their own. As a boy, a teacher introduced Charles to beekeeping, a passion he would maintain his entire life. After high-school he became a paratrooper and mess cook with the 82nd Airborne.

Following the military Charles was a chef, coming to work at Bay Bridge Resort in Shasta Lake, Calif. During this time he continued his education in, and practice of, beekeeping. It wasn’t long before he felt drawn to ministry, leaving his career as a chef to pursue ministry and beekeeping.

Charles moved to Colorado and founded Wilderness Ranch Ministries, a multi-faceted ministry operating an adoption agency, food bank, work program, and his true passion — a boy’s ranch for wards of the state and troubled boys; housing and educating up to 20 boys at a time.

During his work with the boy’s ranch, Charles adopted five boys; Larry, Scott, Tony, Chris and Jimmy. He used beekeeping as therapy for his boys and to support the ministry. Eventually, Charles took his ministry and his beekeeping to Idaho, continuing to provide assistance and support to the community.

In his later years, Charles lived in Oregon with his son, Larry, where he continued to be a beekeeper and beloved figure in every community he lived. He always had comfort, advice, education, a story, a smile, or (if needed) a lecture for those who turned to him. He was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A viewing will be held at noon on Sept. 29, 2018, at Prineville Funeral Home, 199 N.E. 10th St., Prineville, OR., and a reception will follow at 3 p.m., at Sidewalk Cafe, 204 W. Main St., Mitchell, OR. Both are open to all.

“Rest in the Lord”

— Psalm 37.