Editor’s note: Charles Tibbs services have been rescheduled since this obituary has been rescheduled for undisclosed reasons. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1 to 7 p.m, Tuesday, December 20, 2022, with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services for Charlie will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2022, in the chapel of Cornejo Funeral Home, Wellington. A private interment will follow at Prairie Lawn Cemetery.

Charles Tibbs

Charles William Tibbs, 92, died on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, peacefully with family by his side. He was born on March 9, 1930, in Minot, North Dakota. He was active in numerous sports in high school and even received a scholarship to play football at Kansas University.

Charles made his way into the military, serving as an Army Medic during the Korean War. In his early 20s, he met Beverly Fae Morton, and the two were married on September 7, 1952, in Wellington. They celebrated 52 years of marriage before her passing in 2005.

The couple raised their family of two sons, Mitch and Mark, and their daughter, Lori, in Wellington. “Charlie,” as he preferred to be called, took over the Tibbs Furniture Store from his parents, where it remained a fixture of downtown Wellington for over 77 years.

He started his business by building mattresses by hand, and his responsibilities grew from there. Charlie was a respected member of the community that served as a board member for numerous groups, including the Wellington School Board, the local Chamber of Commerce, the Wellington Public Library, and a proud member of the local Elks Club.

Life wasn’t all work for Charlie as he loved making time to go fishing on the river or making the trip to Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Kansas City Chiefs. He and Beverly loved taking their annual vacations and were able to travel the world with each other and a close group of lifelong friends. Above all he accomplished, he loved spending time with his family and watching it grow over the years.  Later in life, Charlie spent 18 wonderful years with the company of Garnett Craig, enjoying trips together and dining out.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Madge and Charles Tibbs; an infant son, Charles Neil Tibbs; wife, Beverly Tibbs; sister, Connie Parker and his granddaughter, Shanna Tibbs.

Survivors include his brother, Alvis Martinson; son, Mitch Tibbs and spouse Sheila; son, Mark Tibbs; daughter, Lori LaForge and spouse Pat; grandchildren: Deric Tibbs and spouse Leslie, Jordan Tibbs, Donovan Tibbs, Morgan LaForge and Adam LaForge; great-grandchildren: Kailey Harris and spouse Michael, Kannon Klein, Addelyn Tibbs, Hailey Tibbs, Dayton Tibbs, and Harper Valencia. He is also survived by his dear companion Garnett Craig.

A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, December 13, 2022, with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m.

SERVICES HAVE BEEN RESCHEDULED AS FOLLOWS: A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 1 to 7 p.m, Tuesday, December 20, 2022, with the family present from 5 to 7  p.m.

Funeral services for Charlie will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2022 in the chapel of Cornejo Funeral Home, Wellington, Kansas. A private interment will follow at Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Wellington, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that contributions be given to the First United Methodist Church, 202 West Harvey Avenue, Wellington, the Wellington Public Library, 121 West 7th Street, Wellington, or Interim Hospice, 105 South Washington Avenue, Wellington. Contributions can be mailed or left with the funeral home.

Share a memory, leave condolences or sign his digital tribute wall at www.cornejofuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by Cornejo Funeral Home + Crematory, 1030 Mission Road, Wellington 67152.