Obituary of Charles B. Emery, Jr.
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Dr. Charles B. Emery, Jr., M.D., 81, of Aiken, SC passed away at his home early Saturday morning, February 18, 2012. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, February 24, 2012 at 2pm at The First Presbyterian Church of Aiken with Rev. Holly Shoaf-O'Kula officiating. George Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 211 Park Avenue, SW, Aiken is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The First Presbyterian Church of Aiken, 224 Barnwell Avenue, NW, Aiken, SC, 29801 or to Solaris Hospice of Aiken, 156 University Parkway, Suite 101, Aiken, SC, 29801.
A son of Charles Emery and Edith Keach Emery, he was born in Ann Arbor, MI on November 8, 1930. He grew up in Bedford, IN and spent part of his high school years in Seattle, WA while his father was in the service. He attended University of Michigan and was the third generation to graduate from the Michigan Medical School, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He also completed his residency in orthopedic surgery there.
In 1957 he married Barbara Burkhardt of Flint, MI and in 1961 he began his twenty-six year practice in Bloomington, IN as the areas first Orthopedic Surgeon. While raising their family, Charlie served one year as Chief of Staff and one year as Chief of Surgery at the Bloomington Hospital, while remaining very active in several orthopedic societies. He then moved to Hilton Head Island, SC where he continued to practice before he retired in 1998. He then moved to Aiken, SC in 2000.
He was a man of many interests, including sports, enjoying his extensive music collection including operas and jazz, reading books by his favorite mystery writers, painting lead soldiers and singing in the church choir and the Masterworks Chorale. He also spent many years playing tennis and later, golf.
He and Barbara have been married for fifty-four years and have three sons, Charles Emery June of Aiken, David Emery Aine and Jon Emery Katie all of Los Angeles, CA. He also is survived by four grandchildren, Lauren and Andrew of Aiken, and Peter and Calvin of Los Angeles and one brother, Gordon Emery Kay of Bedford, IN.
His family was very important to him.