COLUMBIA - Charles M. Corley, 90, died Thursday, June 28, 2012. Greenlawn Funeral Home is assisting the family with a graveside service at 2:00 PM, Monday, July 2, 2012 at Greenlawn Memorial Park, officiated by Rev. Roy Arnold. Visitation with the family will be at the graveside thirty minutes prior to the service. "Charlie" was born January 13, 1922 in Augusta, Georgia. He was the middle child of the late Harvey James and Addie Lee Sims Corley. Childhood was spent by attending school and playing baseball with the various American Legion teams. The New York Giants offered him a contract to play on their rookie team in Florida. But due to his age, he needed his parents' consent. They refused, therefore, ending his baseball career. Since he could not play baseball, Charlie began his career in the optical industry during 1937 as a delivery boy for the South Eastern Optical Company in Augusta, Georgia. South Eastern eventually became part of Bausch & Lomb Optical Company. In 1938, the company moved Charlie to Columbia where he began working in the surfacing department of the lab. During the next few years, he advanced to become a foreman, then an assistant manager and finally a branch/regional manager. He trained and worked with a lot of people over his 45 years of employment. Charlie was recognized as "Optician Of The Year" in 1984 and was presented the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2008. His last part time work was done for Carolina Eastman, fitting safety glasses. In his leisure time, Charlie enjoyed fishing and yard work, as well, as being an avid fan of watching baseball on TV. He will be remembered for his sweet gentle nature, his cheerfulness and good humor. Charlie loved to point out the "difference in vision and sight". He always wanted others to be happy. He could be stubborn in his own way, but he had a heart of gold. Charlie was a faithful and dedicated member of Kilbourne Park Baptist Church until his health began to decline. Surviving is his loving wife of almost 71 years, Grace Corley; daughters and son-in-laws, Jenelle and Charles Stewart of Marietta, Georgia; Rosemary and Stanley Higgins of Columbia; son and daughter-in-law, Milton and Teresa Corley of Sumter; 5 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren; 7 great grands; sister, Carolyn Jones of Macon, Georgia; and many loving nieces and nephews. Other than his parents, Charles was predeceased by five brothers, four sisters and a granddaughter. The family would like to extend their special thanks to Richard and Lynne Schmidt, Raymond and Cynthia Greene, Dr. David Fisher, the South Carolina Oncologist Associates, the Infusion Team at Lexington Hospital, the Palmetto Health Hospice and all others who cared and listened In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kilbourne Park Baptist Church, 4205 Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29206, or to any charity of one's choice . On line condolences may be sent to the family at www. Greenlawn-Columbia.com.

PUBLISHED IN THE STATE ON JULY 1, 2012