Charles D. "Charlie" Unwin | Raleigh News & Observer

Charlie Unwin, 93, passed away on Tuesday, November 11 from natural causes.

Charlie was born in the coal mining camp town of Oak Creek, Colorado on November 30, 1920 to Henry and Cosette Unwin. He spent the major part of his young life in Colorado; migrating to Colorado Springs where he attended high school and found the girl, Wanda, who was later to become his wife.

The military was on his mind as threats of war loomed in Europe. He joined the Army Air Corps at Ft. Warren, Wyoming as a cadet. He excelled as a pilot, but this accomplishment was short lived, however, as Charlie found buzzing the cattle herds of Wyoming too much temptation to resist.

Charlie spent 30 years in the US Army; including combat tours in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. His experience was any armament the Army possessed from the .38 special handgun to the powerful and accurate 8-inch self-propelled howitzer. He was part of the elite Army team at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois that converted the AR-15 into the M-16.

He is survived by two sons, Doug and wife Nancy of Fuquay-Varina; Craig and wife Lynn of Wilmington. His third son, Bob, died earlier this year in Texas; His wife Sheila remains close to the family. Charlie is also survived by six grandchildren; Heather, Jonathan, Michael, Christopher, John, and Brandon Puckett; and three great-grandchildren .

Family will receive friends and relatives Friday, November 14 at 11:00 am at Montlawn Funeral Home with a service in the chapel at 12:00 pm. An interment with full military honors will follow at Montlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Salvation Army at PO Box 10666 Raleigh, NC 27605-0666 www.wakearmy.org or RUFF also known as Rescue Ur Forever Friend PO Box 463 Garner, NC 27529 www.ncruff.org. Condolences can be made at: www.montlawn.com