CMSgt. Charles Harrison York

Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Charles H. York, 81, of Middlesboro, Kentucky, passed away on 22 January 2017 in Abilene Texas. Visitation will be 6:00 to 7:00 PM, Thursday, 26 January 2017 at Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas. Funeral services will be held 12:30 PM, Friday, 27 January 2017 also at Hamil Family Funeral Home with Martin Booth, officiating. Burial will follow at Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene. CMSgt York was born to Roy York and Lillian York on 25 January 1935. He graduated from the Community College of the Air Force with an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice. He married Dawn Wiggins on 30 April 1960 in Rushden, England. He joined the United States Air Force on 1 April 1957 and honorably served for 32 years. CMSgt York was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Silver and two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Longevity Service Award with one Silver and one Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was involved in many organizations where he served as Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6873 Commander, a Thirty-Second Degree Mason, a Shriner and a member of the Scottish Rite. He was also bestowed the Kentucky Colonel title of honor by the Governor of Kentucky. CMSgt York was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Lillian York, and brother Gregory York. CMSgt York is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dawn York: daughter Jacqueline Sherry and son-in-law CMSgt Robert Sherry of Tucson Arizona, daughter Jennifer Ritchie and son-in-law Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Thomas Ritchie of Havelock, North Carolina: brothers Kenneth York and Harold Johnson: sisters Carolyn Coffey, Shelia Johnson and Penny Lynch: grandchildren, Sandra Dannemiller, Michael Sherry, Ashley Sherry, Catherine Ritchie, Thomas Ritchie, Michael Ritchie and Elizabeth Ritchie: great grand children, Mark Dannemiller, Alexandria Dannemiller, James Dannemiller, Manuel Sherry and Samuel Sherry. Pallbearers will be Lt Col Thomas Ritchie, CMSgt Robert Sherry, Michael Sherry, Thomas Ritchie, Michael Ritchie and Master Sergeant Jerrid Caverly. Memorials can be given to the Shriners Hospitals for Children