Charles Edward Sloss

Charles Edward Sloss (Chas, Charlie) was born November 10, 1940 in Giles County (Elkton), TN. He was the oldest of two children born to Willie Edison Sloss and Alzata Lena Bennett Sloss. His father passed away when Chas and his sister Mary Jane were young. In 1951, his mother married Thaddeus Holt a widower with two children, Lee Rona Holt and Charles Evans Holt,and they moved to Indianapolis, IN. Together, Thaddeus and Alzata, added two daughters to their family, Theresa Bennett Holt and Cynthia Louise Holt.

Charles spent summers in Elkton with his grandmother Martha Jane Bridgeforth Sloss and grandfather Willie Gastion Sloss. He loved trailing behind his granddaddy “working” the fields
and watching his grandma preparing meals. His grandparents instilled a love of Christ in him.
He always quoted his grandma as saying ” you gonna need a God on your side”. Charles accepted Christ at a young age and united with Pilgrim Chapel Baptist Church, Indianapolis IN in the mid 1960s. He served wherever needed and as a faithful deacon at the Church until his health began to fail.

Charles met Vester Lee (Becky) Hilliard, the love of his life, and they married in 1969. Becky preceded him in death in May, 2000.

Charles was educated in the Indianapolis Public School system where he attended Francis W. Parker school #56 and graduated from Harry E. Wood High School in 1959. He worked for Stout Shoe Store and later for Hooks Drugs (CVS) from which he retired after 30+ years. One of his favorite stories was when he threw out the first pitch at a CVS sponsored Indians game at downtown Victory Field.

Charles loved to grow things and would plant all manner of vegetables and even unknown seeds just to see what would come up. He freely shared his harvest with family, friends and neighbors. He also gave advice and “supervision” to those intending to be gardeners.

Charles went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2022. He leaves to mourn his passing sisters: Lee Rona Holt McKinney, Mary Jane Sloss Mack, Theresa Holt, and Cynthia Holt, many nieces and nephews, including special nephew Christopher Holt and niece Tamela Mack and many other family members, church family and friends