Charles M. McKinney, Jr. was born in Dallas on October 24, 1918. He graduated from Forest Avenue High School in 1936. He married Gladys Marie Anderson on October 28, 1938 at Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church. They moved to Irving in 1939 and raised four boys: Charles III, Robert George, Gregory Lynne & Timothy Scott. Mrs. McKinney died in 2001 and their three youngest sons preceded Charles Jr. in death. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Rachel McKinney Bartanowicz of Purcellville, Virginia; Allison Marie Slifer of Jefferson, Maryland; Katie Wren and Timothy Scott II and by nine great grandchildren as well; one nephew, Kurt Molhusen of Irving and one niece, Amy Molhusen, of Dallas. Mr. McKinney started working for Interstate Circuit Theaters as an usher in 1937 at the then new Melba Theater. Later he worked as a shipping clerk for the theater company until World War II. He met his future wife, Gladys Marie, also in 1937 and they were married the following year. They moved from Dallas to Irving in 1939 and resided on English Street until 1957 and subsequently built a new home and moved to Sherwood Forest where they remained for the remainder of their lives. They were married for 63 years. He served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from May 1944 until February 1946, first in the South Pacific and later in China. After basic training, Mr. McKinney was assigned to guard duty in San Diego and soon thereafter was assigned to duty aboard the U.S.S. Duxbury Bay, originally as a 40mm gunner against Japanese kamikaze attacks and later as a cox-swain for small landing craft to transport Marines from their ships to the beaches during several battles, including the final assault on Okinawa. Later he was reassigned to the U.S.S. Zarnack moving up the Tsingtao River for liberation of U.S. POWs in China and also assisting the Chinese people in Shanghai who had been displaced by the Japanese. Immediately following World War II, Mr. McKinney returned to his pre-war job with Interstate Circuit where he continued to advance and was selected in 1953 as Vice President in charge of outside sales at Sterling Sales & Service His responsibilities increased over the following years and in 1957 was named Vice President and General Manager of Modern Sales and Service. In 1963, he was selected to be President after Modern Sales and Service in Dallas & Sterling Services in NC merged and remained motion picture equipment subsidiaries of ABCs Interstate Circuit. He retired in 1973 when a Canadian firm purchased the company and sold it off for a loss. During his career in show business he became a nationally known figure in the theater supply and equipment field. Over the years, Mr. McKinney served in volunteer positions with several nonprofit organizations including the Boy Scouts of America in Texas and serving as a leader of the Circle Ten Council. Upon moving from old Irving to Sherwood Forest in 1957, Mr. McKinney also dedicated his leadership and stewardship guiding Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, especially in its early years. Aside from all of his accomplishments, he cherished his work for Good Shepherd in the Lords name. In his twilight years, he considered it to be of the greatest value to others during his entire lifetime. Funeral services are to be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 6 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2620 West Grauwyler Road in Irving with Pastor Brad Carroll officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, 1413 East Irving Blvd in Irving.