Charles Wayne Mcpike

Charles Wayne McPike passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2016, in The Lutheran Home at Topton. He was the husband of the late Mary Evelyn McPike. Charles was born in Linn County, IA, on July 30,1925, the eldest child of Charles Otis and Gladys McPike. Raised in Cleveland, OH, Walker, IA, and Cedar Rapids IA, he graduated from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids in 1943. Drafted into the Army in November, 1943, he served in the 173rd General Hospital. following the war he relocated to Long Beach, CA and moved to Sacramento in 1949 to start work for the State of California. A chance meeting with Mary Evelyn Perley aboard an Alaskan cruise ship led to a wedding in Grand Teton National Park in 1956 and a strong marriage lasting 52 years. A lifelong train enthusiast, he never passed up an opportunity to ride streetcars, subways, narrow-gauge trains, and with the family, twice traversed the country by rail to visit Mary's family in Toronto, ON. In retirement he was a longtime docent with the California State Railroad Museum. He and Mary traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada and to far-flung locales such as Central America, Australia, Europe, and New Zealand. In his last years he resided in the Lutheran Home in Topton, PA.

Charles is survived by Sons, John McPike, widower of Pamela McPike, of Rancho Cordova, and Keith McPike, husband of Joni McPike, of Topton, PA; Grandchildren, April, Kristen, Emily, Liam, and Kendyl; and many nieces and nephews. Charles was predeceased by a Sister, Joan Prest, and Brother, Gene McPike.

The family wishes to express its gratitude for the loving care of the staff of the Diakon Lutheran Home in Topton, PA.

A viewing will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, Wednesday, April 6, with outdoor services immediately following, at Sacramento Memorial Lawn, 6100 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, California.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the California State Railroad Museum, 125 I Street, Sacramento, 95814, www.csrmf.org ; or to the Nevada State Railroad Museum, 2180 S. Carson Street, Carson City, NV, 89701, www.nsrm-friends.org .

Ludwick Funeral Homes, Inc., was in charge of local arrangements.