Charlton, Tyrone Melvin

Tyrone Melvin Charlton, 69, of Roanoke, Va., fondly known as “Stretch,” “Slim,” “Mr. C,” Mr. “T,” “Dad,” and “Pops,” was born June 8, 1939, in Radford, Va., to the late Lawrence and Ollie Snell Charlton. He was the second of four children. Tyrone entered into matrimony with Margie Carson Charlton on January 7, 1967, a union that produced three beautiful and adoring children.

He attended Christiansburg Institute in Christiansburg, Va. Tyrone was the first African-American to be appointed as a correction officer in a South Western Virginia correctional facility. He retired in 2001 from Virginia Field Unit 25 with over 28 years of dedicated service that was above the call of duty. While working at Unit 25 he was the first officer to organize sports on a correctional field unit as well as being the first African-American officer to work on a road unit. Tyrone loved to work and loved people. He was a faithful member and provided custodial service at High Street Baptist Church for over 17 years. Tyrone was a surrogate father to many of his children’s friends and a big brother to many others.

Those left to mourn are his wife of 41 years, Margie M. Charlton; daughters, Karen (Eddie) Garrett, of Roanoke, Va., Mauricia (Fredrick) Murphy, of Fairburn, Ga., and Marie (Howard) Tucker, of Roanoke, Va.; son, Ricardo Hytower, of San Juan, Puerto Rico; brothers, Lawrence Charlton, of Palm Bay, Fla., Byron (Carolyn) Charlton, of Lorton, Va., and Charles (Janet) Charlton, of Johnson City, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Atia Howard, of Herndon, Va., Eleshia Garrett, Isiah Tucker, Kendrick Tucker, and Amanda Brown, of Roanoke, Va.; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The family extends special thanks to the many healthcare professionals who provided for his needs during his long illness, especially the Oncology department at Roanoke Carilion Hospital and MCV Massey Cancer Center in Richmond, Va. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Society of N.A., VA. Chapter, 2101 Executive Drive, Hampton, Va. 23666 in his name.

The family will receive friends from noon on Saturday, November 22, 2008, until service time. A funeral service will be conducted 1 p.m. on Saturday at Simpson Funeral Home by Byron Charlton, the Rev. Gary Brown, Minister Fredrick Murphy and the Rev. Charles Charlton. Arrangements handled by Simpson Funeral Home, 540-366-0707.