Obituary of Charles Calvin Kingsley

Charles Calvin “Chuck” Kingsley passed away peacefully on February 29th, surrounded by his family, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Chuck was born on July 11, 1926, to Frederick and Pearl Merrill Kingsley, the third of seven children, and was raised in Blackwell, Oklahoma. Charley, as he was known then, made a name for himself as a “Fighting Maroon” at Blackwell High School, winning back-to-back state wrestling championships. In 1943, he joined the U.S. Navy and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. He later attended Kansas State Teacher’s College, graduating with a BS in Education. He moved to Tulsa in 1951 and taught Industrial Arts at Central High School while working as a linotypist for the Tulsa World. In 1957, he married Pope Economou, the love of his life, and together they raised five children. In 1968, with the blessings of his father-in-law (owner of Coney Island downtown), Chuck and family partners started the first Coney I-Lander restaurant. He went on to open seven more across the Tulsa metro area and ran the chain for the next 40 years, cementing it as a true “Tulsa Tradition.” In 2009, he was awarded a Tulsey “Legend” Award as part of the Tulsa Global Entrepreneurship Week for his long-term entrepreneurial work in the community. Despite Chuck’s many professional accomplishments, what always mattered most to him was family. He was a teacher, a cheerleader, and a mentor who loved his wife and children beyond measure. His kids and grandkids will remember his many jokes and sayings, his enviable jitterbug skills, and his love for long car trips with his family. He was always bigger than life and celebrated his birthday with an annual backflip off the diving board well into his early 80s. If he had parting words, they would probably be “Good God, man, DO it!” Chuck will be remembered for his amazing zest for life, his charismatic personality, and his true generosity of spirit. He never met a stranger, and he never turned his back on anyone in need. He is survived by his wife, Pope; his sisters, Mildred and Elsie; his sister-in-law, Ann Kingsley; his children – Karen and Allen Litchfield, Evonne and Michael Stevenson, Michael Kingsley, Terri Kingsley, Patrick and Gina Kingsley, and Barbra and Alex Miranda; his grandchildren, Jessica and Kyle Cermak, Olivia and Bob Fissel, Heidi Stevenson and Brian Kidd, Meredith Kingsley and Ben Robinson, Kate Stevenson, Allison Kingsley, Luke Kingsley, Mark Kingsley, John Kingsley, and Claudia Miranda; his great-grandchildren, Lucy Cermak, Penny Lane Cermak, and Kingsley Kidd; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Simeon’s Employee Fund or Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund. Trisagion 7PM Wednesday Ninde Brookside Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Liturgy 11:00 A.M. Thursday Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church interment Rose Hill Cemetery.