Sept. 16, 1926 – June 23, 2014

NATCHEZ — Services for Charles William “Bill” Stein, 87, of Natchez, who died Monday, June 23, 2014, at his residence, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jeff Brewer officiating.

Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 1 p.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home.

Mr. Stein was born Sept. 16, 1926, the son of Charles Millhouse Stein and Vesta Muster Stein.

He grew up in Martins Ferry, Ohio, and Chicago.

He joined the Navy and served as a gunners mate during World War II. After the war, he visited and fell in love with Mississippi.

He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in business administration.

Mr. Stein moved to Natchez in 1949 to begin his career at Cranfield Oil. He later retired from International Paper Company after more than 31 years of faithful service as personnel supervisor.

He enjoyed many years of hunting deer and turkey as a member of Stagg Hunting Club.

He was a member of Parkway Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher and worker with children in the Awana program.

He had a gentle heart and loved his family. He passes on many family stories and important life long memories, to which we are grateful.

Mr. Stein was preceded in death by his parents; his precious daughter, Debra Kae Stein Ogle; and his children’s beloved mother, Toxie Lee Calhoun Stein.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; three sons, William Lee Stein and wife, Melody, John T. Smith and wife, Kimberly, and Paul Smith and wife, Leah; two daughters, Teri Stein Berry and husband, Tony, and Michelle Franks and husband, Robert; 11 grandchildren, Amanda Jones, Roy Ogle, Brandon Ogle, Jordan Berry, Cory Stein, Chase Stein, Kerstin Smith, John Michael Smith, Summer Thompson, Robert Franks and Sophie Smith; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Richard Stein; and a number of nephews, nieces and friends.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers will be Austin Jones, Robert Frank III, John McGee, John Cloy, Dan Breland, Charlie Netterville, Howard Netterville and Modie Mascagni.

Online condolences may be made to lairdfh.com.