Obituary of Charles Floyd Headen

CHARLES FLOYD HEADEN September 8, 1931 – April 20, 2007 Charles Floyd Headen was the fifth child born to the late John Belford Headen and Lottie Mae (Reynolds) Headen in Washington, D.C. on September 8, 1931. He was the last of five children (4 boys and 1 girl). Charles was educated in the Washington, D.C. public schools. As a young man he moved to Brooklyn, New York and attended school, once again, and began to play music. When he was a little boy in D.C., he would tell his Mother to make his sister, Willie Mae, play the piano and drums for him. Later, back in New York, he started to play musical instruments; piano, drums and guitar; and to quote his sister, “Oh, YES! He could play that bass guitar!”…So, now what did he do?!!! He got a job in a bead factory making all kinds of beads. This actually turned out to be a great blessing because this is the place where he met his beloved wife, Julia Mae Skrinee. Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Julia Mae Headen (Feb. 15, 2007), and his stepson, Richard Jerome Gay (March 25, 2005). Charles married Julia at the age of 20, August 5, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York. He often told Julia that she was a “good wife” and he loved her. Charles expressed that his family was very poor in the years of the 30’s, and life was a constant struggle for survival. His personal struggle lasted until he enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 19. He spent 20 years in the military before retiring in 1972. Although he was eager to leave the military on retirement and seek other experiences in life, he always felt that those years were very good to him. His entire career was spent in the medical field, all but three years in psychiatry. In the early fifties, he joined a research program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, aimed at discovering how to help young people become rehabilitated, which gave Charles immeasurable satisfaction and confidence to help others. Eventually, Charles came to the northwest and was assigned at Madigan General Hospital where he spent most of the rest of his military career. He furthered his academic growth at Evergreen State College in the field of Psychology in Human Development. At Madigan Hospital, he was appointed Wardmaster of the inpatient service, and then non-commissioned officer in charge of Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry. Charles spent his latter years in the care of the Evergreen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Olympia, Washington. He had a passionate love for God, and thoroughly enjoyed being His child. He loved many types of music, but nothing compared to the comforting and melodious sounds of the gospel hymns. He leaves his only sister, Willie Mae Price of Brooklyn, NY; nephew, Eddie Grant, of Brooklyn, NY; nephew, John Herbert Headen, of Olympia, WA; Delores Walton (#1); Beatrice, Delores (#2); Francis; and a host of relatives.