Chilton Curtis Christopher

Chilton Curtis Christopher, 80, of Odessa, MO, passed away at the Kansas City Veterans Hospital Friday, October 14, 2016. He was born April 18, 1936 in Paola, KS, to Harry Thomas Christopher and Sally (Edna Mae Pritchard) Christopher. He was raised in Kansas City, MO and graduated from Central High School in 1954. He joined the United States Air Force and served our country from 1955 to 1959 as Crew Chief on a C-124 cargo plane traveling to Europe and the Middle East for some of his tour of duty. He was united in marriage to Donna Sue Bright, whom he had known since they were in the third grade, on June 16, 1957. They celebrated 59 years of marriage this year. He worked as a welder at the Fisher Body auto assembly plant in the early 1960’s. He also worked as a truck driver for Pepsi Cola, Safeway Foods, Merritt Foods, as well as his own over-the-road trucking business, C-W Enterprises, he had in the 1980’s. He and his family operated a World Wide Stereo store in Raytown, MO as well in 1979. He joined Mount Hope Masonic Lodge #476 in Odessa, MO in 1978 and served as Worshipful Master in 1983 and 1993. He joined the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in 1979 and served as Wise Master of the Chapter of the Rose Croix in 2003. He received the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and then the title of 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Honorary. He was also a member of Martha Chapter #169 Order of the Eastern Star in Odessa, MO and served as Worthy Patron a number of times in the 1980’s. He joined The Ararat Shrine Temple in Kansas City in 1978 and worked with the Directors Staff for many years. He was very active in all these Masonic Organizations and enjoyed the Fraternity and charity work in the community. He was very talented with artwork throughout his life doing paintings and drawings. He was an avid woodworker creating original pieces as well as restoring antique furniture. He had a passion for old trucks and cars, restoring and driving many classic automobiles over the years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Sally Christopher. He leaves his angel and wife of 59 years, Donna Christopher, two sons, Mark Christopher and his wife Jenny, of Caddo Mills; TX, Tom Christopher and his wife Sheila, of Holden, MO. He also leaves five grandchildren Lacey(Christopher) Beals and her husband, Matt of Altoona, IA; Vanessa (Christopher) Simmons and her husband Matt of Pleasant Hill, MO; Curtis Christopher and his fiancée, Kelli Reinhardt, of Pleasant Hill, MO; Lori (Christopher) Howell and her husband Stephen Howell of Caddo Mills, TX, and Sara Christopher of Caddo Mills, TX. He also leaves five great-granddaughters, Sophia and Julia Howell , Ella, Audrey and Ashlynn Beals, and one great-grandson, Tristan Simmons.