In Memory of Charles Stallings

CHARLES BAYARD STALLINGS, 73, passed away on September 27, 2002. Prior to falling ill in March, Charles was very active in the Houston chess community as an instructor at the Houston Chess Club and several local schools including The Village School (2002 State Champions), T.H. Rogers Elementary, River Oaks Elementary, Solon Jr. Academy and several others. Charles was known for his generosity and encyclopedic knowledge of chess, the Bible, history and geography.

Charles was born in Tampa, Florida on December 24, 1928. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War 1951-53 and graduated from the University of Florida in 1958. He married Mary Gadway in 1963 and moved and made his home in Houston in 1968. Charles had a lifelong passion for chess. As a player he captured the 1963 Florida Chess Experts' Championship and guided the Orlando Chess Club to a state championship title in the early 1960's.

In Houston , Charles ran the St. Cyril Chess Club and coached many young players who ascended to the rank of master under his guidance. He worked as a doorman at Woodway Place II for many years until his retirement in the mid 1990's. Upon retirement, Charles was able to devote more time to his passions of Bible study and teaching chess to Houston youth.

He is preceded in death by his mother Rosa Elizabeth Sparkman Stallings, father Otto Mitchell Stallings Jr. and brother Otto Mitchell Stallings III, all of Tampa, Florida. He is survived by his daughter Sarah Colleen Stallings of Houston, and sons Cary John Stallings of Katy, Jay Spencer Stallings of Valencia, California and Thomas Reed Stallings of Houston and former wife Mary Gadway Yenik of Opelousas, Louisiana. He is also survived by his sister Mary Elizabeth and her husband Paul Singleton, Richard Stallings and wife Lou, and sister-in-law Lenore Stallings all of Tampa, Florida and numerous nieces and nephews.

"Pop Pop" will be missed by three daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren including Ryan Harrison and Jackson Harrison and their mother Michael Harrison Stallings of Valencia, California; Jason Reed and Samantha Jane and their mother Jane Hummel Stallings of Katy, Texas; and Stephanie Dianne, Mary Kathleen and George Spencer and their mother Kathleen Barney Stallings of Houston, Texas.