Charlie Funk, age 18 years and five months, died peacefully Monday night, March 10, 2008 at his home and in the arms of his best friend, John Allan Funk. Charlie was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas on October 13, 1989. His AKC Registered name was Sir Charles Namore Th'Second. Charlie came to live with his adopted mother, Pansy Caldwell Funk on Christmas Day, 1989. He was her soul mate and protector until her death in June of 2002. Upon the loss of his "Momma" Charlie became a fixture at his master's funeral home. Coming to work everyday, he made lots of new friends and was no doubt a therapeutic addition for the clientele. When he went outdoors, people driving by would honk and wave. Patrons across the street at the drive-in bank would pass the time watching him as they waited on their transactions to be completed. As he got older, and as his birthday approached, someone would put his name in the local paper telling of the date. There were always countless birthday cards and calls from his friends. In recent years, when his hearing and vision began to fail, he came to depend more and more upon his caregivers at the office. Up until two years ago, he didn't eat "people food" but was raised exclusively on Iams Dog Food. We figured, "what the heck? He's lived this long, he deserves to have something tasty!" So was started a routine by his "Uncle" Darrell of having a McDonald's chicken fillet in the morning and a plain hamburger patty in the afternoon. This happened every day. It obviously caused no harm. When he got home, he still just got his Iams and his vitamin, but he could live with that. He was a happy dog. His "Aunt" Glenda Holmes, the receptionist, and before her, his "Aunt" Karon West, would treat him like a baby, carrying him around wrapped in a blanket. They spoiled him rotten. People have said that when they die, they want to come back as John Allan's dog!

He is survived by his heartbroken master, John Allan Funk, and by too many "Aunts", "Uncles", and friends to mention individually. They know who they are and how much Charlie loved them. His friend and caregiver, Darrell Tubberville helped to make Charlie's last two years the best a dog could have on this earth.

A memorial service will be held at six o'clock Thursday evening, March 13, 2008, in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home with Reverend Jan T. Edwards officiating.

Memorials may take the form of donations to the Malvern Animal Shelter, 2625 Canine Road, Malvern, Arkansas 72104, or to the Altar Flower Fund at First United Methodist Church, Malvern.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.