Obituary

Charles Rimes

July 11, 1937 - March 8, 2025

Charles was born at his childhood home in Tylertown, Mississippi on July 11, 1937. His family relocated to Laurel, Mississippi when he was young, but he still spent his summers in Tylertown with his aunts, uncles and cousins. As a young boy, Charlie proved to be exceptionally intelligent, graduating from high school at just 16 years old in 1957. He then attended Jones County Community College where he obtained an associate degree.

Charles moved to Bogalusa, Louisiana after college and began working as the first male teller at First State Bank and Trust Company. While working there, he attended classes and received an associate degree in banking which served him well in his 42 years of service there. He retired as the Vice President and loan officer in 1997. After retirement from the bank Charles became a licensed massage therapist and opened the Magic Touch of Health Massage Studio which has been in operation since 1998. He also obtained property adjuster’s license which he used to help numerous people resolve their insurance claims following several natural disasters. Charles has long been well known for the columns he wrote in the Bogalusa Daily News Paper, Starlight Christian Newspaper and his stories on the ‘Bogalusa Then and Now’ Facebook page. More recently, he loved to write and share stories with his creative writing group at the Bogalusa Branch Library. (Every Friday at 10am. All are welcome to attend.)

Charles has always enjoyed a prominent role in public affairs, having participated in the Bogalusa Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, and Rotary Club, and as president of the Bogalusa Country Club. He was elected Bogalusa’s Citizen of the Year, and also proudly served his community and nation in the military reserve.

In 1957 he married Nancy Slade. They had one beautiful daughter together, Kimberly “Kimby” Rimes. Charles and Kimby have shared a lifetime of wonderful memories together. In 1978 Charles married Linda Kennedy Solomon and was blessed to be loved by her daughter, Kimberly “Khristy” Solomon. Charles and Linda were devastated when their beloved Khristy tragically passed away due to cystic fibrosis in 1983, but since have been blessed with 3 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren in their 47 years of marriage. He loved to spend whatever time he could with the little ones … they were his greatest joy. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Spurgeon Rimes and Mary Reeves Rimes; daughter, Kimberly Kristy Solomon; granddaughter, Sara Beard Mullett; sister, Gayle Rimes Ishee.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Kennedy Rimes; daughter, Kimberly Rimes “John” Hopkins, grandchildren, John Roy (Morgan) Mullett, Nicole Mullett (Jeffrey) Conn, and Kayli Sue Mullett (Everett) Phillips; great grandchildren, Myles Mullett, Jack Mullett, Curtis Stafford, Isabella Conn, Eden Conn, Lilly Conn, Easton Conn, Abram Conn, Loxley Conn, Karly Phillips, Leah Phillips, Luke Phillips; and sister, June Rimes Thaggard.

Charles was a man of great faith. He was a long-time active member of First Baptist Church in Bogalusa, then many more years with Highland Baptist Church. He always diligently and selflessly lent his talents for financial and facility management for the benefit of his fellow congregants.

This is just a drop in the bucket of the wonderful, full life that Charles Rimes lived. He knew the value of the sunshine, of working hard and giving a lot. He knew the importance of taking care of his family, his church and community. He understood the importance of passing down knowledge, remembering your heritage, and of a well-placed joke. He was a son, father, husband, pawpaw, brother and friend to many. A life well lived is worth praising God for. And we thank our Lord Jesus Christ for the 87 years we had him and for the knowledge that we will see him again someday in Glory.  

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. at Highland Baptist Church, 21022 Hwy 21, Bogalusa, LA. Interment will follow in Seal Cemetery, Stateline Community.

A visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday evening from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and again on Thursday morning from 10:00 A.M. until service time at 1:00 P.M.

Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home & Crematory in Bogalusa, Louisiana is in charge of arrangements.