Charles Russell Tubbs, 92, was born Feb. 2, 1926, in rural Clinton County, to Clifton and Mary (Lane) Tubbs. Charles married Marjorie Georgia Bentrott on June 30, 1945, in Wheatland. They enjoyed celebrating their 73rd anniversary this past June.
Charles had one brother, Edward Lane Tubbs, who predeceased him. Two daughters-in-law, Carolyn Kay (George) Tubbs and Jan Alayne (Coffman) Tubbs, also predeceased him. Surviving are his wife, three sons, David (Janet Draley) Tubbs, of Eldridge, John (Marta) Tubbs of Davenport, and Mark (Lori) Tubbs, of Carmichael, Calif.; three grandchildren, Julie (Roger) Tubbs Higbee, Ronda (Scott) Tubbs-Huston, and Elizabeth Tubbs, one great-grandson, Eli, two sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews.
Charles grew up on a farm south of Maquoketa, between Delmar and Elwood, that had been homesteaded by his Tubbs forebears in 1866. A four-year letterman in basketball at Elwood High School, he was a straight-A student and valedictorian of his graduating class of 16. In the same class were his life-long friend, Ronald Kyarsgaard, and Marjorie, who became his wife and life partner.
After their marriage, Charles and Marjorie farmed until 1949, when they moved to Bettendorf, to raise their family. After working briefly at Case and Alcoa, Charles went into the contracting business, first in partnership with George Daufeldt, and then in the late 1950s on his own. Charles was an expert carpenter and general contractor, building hundreds of homes throughout the area.
Charles and Marjorie’s friendship with the Kyarsgaard family was to have a profound effect on their lives. Upon hearing that their high-school classmate Ronald had been imprisoned because of his conscientious objection to military service, Marjorie went to comfort his wife, Doris. She had many questions for Doris about the Kyarsgaard’s Bible-based beliefs, which were soon being answered by Ronald’s mother, Alice Kyarsgaard, a zealous pioneer minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Soon, Charles and Marjorie were studying the Bible with Vernon and Elizabeth Stamp and began attending the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Maquoketa. Charles began publishing the good news in March, 1948, and was baptized, along with Marjorie, in 1948, in Des Moines. In support of God’s Kingdom, he faithfully served Jehovah God for over 70 years.
He served in the Davenport Congregation as Theocratic Ministry School conductor and Congregation Servant and was an elder from the conception of the elder arrangement in 1971 until his death. Charles was known for his custom of writing down the pronunciation of difficult words and common grammar mistakes on cards and handing the cards to younger brothers who thereby averted a misstep on the platform!
Charles was also very active in Kingdom Hall construction. When he moved to Davenport, the congregation was meeting in a rented storefront at the corner of Fourth and Marquette Streets. Charles was instrumental in planning and building the first Kingdom Hall in the area, a cement block structure on Judson Street, Davenport, in 1951, followed by very similar halls in Rock Island and Moline. Later, he was involved in the “Quick-Build” and Regional Building Committee crews, where he served for many years as Quality Control overseer. Many younger volunteers fondly remember Charlie Tubbs prowling the construction sites with his 6’6” level in hand, making sure everything was square and plumb!
Charles also served for many years as Accounts overseer in the circuit assembly organization and visited congregation members in area hospitals as a member of the Patient Visitation Group.
Charles set an excellent example as a family head. Family Bible study and participation in the ministry were constant features of family life in the Tubbs home. Charles and Marjorie raised their three sons to follow in their example of steadfast service. Charles had the joy of seeing his sons serve as elders for many years and together spend over 68 years in full-time and special full-time service.
Charles fell asleep peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, at Senior Star, Davenport. He was laid to rest at Pine Hill Cemetery in Davenport. Charles had ironclad faith that his God, Jehovah, will raise him up to fullness of life in His new world.
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