Charles Wray Sovine, 92, of Downey, CA, and formerly of Hinton, WV, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2026, peacefully in his sleep at his daughter's home in Downey, CA, where he lived the past 9 years. He was born July 15,1933, in Culloden, WV, son of Walter Wray and Jessie Danford Sovine and older brother to William G. "Bill" Sovine, who preceded him in death in 2011.

Charles grew up with his little brother Bill on a working farm in Hurricane, WV, where among their many crops and livestock, his best memory was picking and selling strawberries from the back of their truck. He enjoyed singing bass to his brother Bill's tenor throughout childhood at the Beverly Hills United Methodist Church in Hurricane, WV. He was a member of the Hi-Y YMCA Youth Fraternal Program. He loved his job at Niermann's Pharmacy & Apothecary washing windows and making milkshakes. He graduated from Huntington East High School in Huntington, WV, in 1951 and started his job as an usher at the Beverly Theater in Huntington, (where he occasionally snuck in his future wife, Jean). He then worked at SUCO (Standard Ultramarine & Color Company) in Huntington as a color technician, where he also played on the company basketball team. After moving to California with his new bride, Jean, in 1957, he attended Santa Monica City College. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad Terminal Warehouse as a rate clerk, then Container Transport Trucking as a dispatcher and finally retired from Fibreboard Corporation as an account manager in 1989. He was also an independent Mutual Funds broker.  Charles held his position of 32nd Degree Mason in high regard, and received recognition for over 50 years of Masonic service. He was also honored to be a Shriner as well as a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Charles was known for his work ethic, ingenuity, generosity, and sense of humor.

Charles' loving and devoted wife Jean Lilly Sovine, preceded him in death February 19, 2025. They met at a bowling alley in Huntington, WV, married six months later and drove out to California where they bought their first home and were blessed with two children, Tammi and Bill. Charles was creative; he was an excellent pencil sketch artist. He also enjoyed woodworking and had a knack for crafting things by hand. His family will always treasure the beautiful nativity sets that he handmade with intricate detail. He was an early adopter of computers and kept the family tree, made beautiful cards for celebrations and loved to play the game Tetris. He was a big, strong guy and could fix anything; so he was often the "go-to" guy for handyman projects for his family and friends. "Charlie" and Jean were an industrious team who worked hard doing whatever they could for their family from raising silky terriers to flipping houses, in addition to their full time jobs. Charles was very involved with his family, coaching Bill's football team and attending father-daughter functions with Tammi. Jean and Charles loved to travel and humorously referred to their fast-paced road trips with family as "Whirlwind Tours." After raising their children, they retired to Hinton, WV, to their lovely cabin that they designed and helped build.

Charles is survived by his daughter, Tammi Sovine Humbert and husband Will of Downey, CA; his grandson Ryan Humbert, wife Kimie, and great-grandchildren Asher and Rylie of Downey, CA; and granddaughter Magen Humbert Meyers and husband Cedric of Lancaster, CA. He is also survived by granddaughters Nicole Sovine and fiancé Cory Marshall of Las Vegas, NV; and Lauren Sovine and fiancé Tim Egan of Austin, TX; both children of his son, William Charles "Bill" Sovine who passed away in 2017.

His immediate family will be honoring him in California with a private Celebration of Life on Father's Day Weekend. He will be buried next to his beloved wife and sweetheart, Jean, in the Greenbriar Burial Park in Hinton, WV, where they will be forever united in love.

Graveside committal services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday July 21, 2026 at Greenbrier Burial Park in Hinton. Those wishing to attend the graveside are asked to meet at the cemetery.

Condolences can be left below or sent to Charles' daughter's address: Tammi & Will Humbert, 9321 Otto Street, Downey, CA 90240

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes." 12:7