Charles Oren Fortune

Charles "Chuck" Oren Fortune, 92 passed peacefully from this world into Gods Heavenly Kingdom on September 3, 2026. He was born on December 22, 1933, in Thomas, Oklahoma to R.L. and Selma Fortune.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Donna Lee Fortune; his daughter Brenda Lee Price (Lonnie), sons Jay Dale Fortune (Gloria) and Jon Charles Fortune (Yolanda); his sister Lavoda Harvick; his grandchildren April Marie Bird, Cody Dean Price, and Jon Thomas Fortune. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Nancy Carol Toomy and his granddaughter Stephanie Marie Fortune.

He was drafted in 1953 and served in the Army until 1955, where he was mostly stationed in Germany. There he trained and received his certification as a radio telegrapher. Upon returning to Oklahoma, he started working for Frisco Railroad. His first entry into working for a railroad which in the next few years would become his career for decades.

Soon Chuck moved to Riverside, California where his parents and sister had already moved. He quickly met his soon to be wife – Donna Perkins and they married June 29, 1957. They started their family with the birth of their daughter Brenda in 1958, followed by Jay in 1960, and their youngest Jon in 1962.

Chuck also went back to working with the railroad at Santa Fe as a Depot Agent and then the American Railroad Association as a Railroad Inspector. He and Donna and their young family spent the next years moving around Southern California where he had his different assignments, until transferring Washington D.C. where the Fortune’s spent several years before next moving to St. Louis, Missouri and eventually back to California in Stockton. There Chuck ultimately retired after 40 years working for the railroad, but continued to be a lifelong railroad enthusiast.

In the mid 90’s Chuck and Donna got their first 5th Wheel. They would go out on weekends and weeks long trips around the US and into Canada and Mexico, sometimes taking their granddaughter April on those long treks. Retirement brought a new phase to his life by allowing him more time to go RV’ing and further explore the US. Together with his wife they made it to all 50 states - and have the mugs from each to show for it!

Yuma, Arizona became their eventual home where they lived most of the year while continuing to travel and spending their summers back in Northern California near their family. He loved the summer heat, especially as he got older and the landscape which for him was somewhat reminiscent of his home in Thomas, Oklahoma.

As a lifelong Christian Chuck served as a Deacon for 50 years at different churches where lived.

He will be remembered for his laugh, notorious clumsiness, stubbornness, love of genealogy and photography, his stories, his faith and his love of family. He will be truly missed by all who knew him.