Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Maben, Charles April 17, 1960
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Diane Renfrow dianel14@gmail.com June 24, 2018, 5:41 am

Norfolk Journal and Guide, Apr 23,1960
Top officials as well as rank and file employees of Smith and Welton, Inc., 
turned out Wednesday at St. John AME Church to pay final tribute to Charles 
Maben, 85, oldest employee of the company’s main department store on Granby 
street.

Mr. Maben, who had been ill for about six months, died Sunday at his home at 872 
Avenue C.  He had worked in the delivery department of Smith and Welton since 
about the turn of the century.  Six members of the department served as active 
pallbearers on Wednesday.

The eulogy was delivered by the Rev. Dr. W. L. Hildebrand, pastor the of the 
church.  Burial was in Calvary Cemetery under the direction of B. F. King.

Mr. Maben was a Smith and Welton institution as well as a Norfolk personality.  
He delivered packages afoot during the early years at Smith and Welton, first 
using a shoulder strap to hold his load together.  Later he graduated to a push 
cart.

He was a familiar and popular figure in the Ghent section from this beginning, 
and through the decades as operator of a delivery truck, which he kept spotless.  
He never received a traffic ticket.

Many customers left their keys in mail boxes so he could place their packages 
inside their homes.  Often they left notes inviting him to sample some 
delicacies they had left for him in their refrigerators.

Just before Christmas, the gifts he received usually matched the loads he moved 
during his push cart days.

Punctuality and close attention to his duties won for Mr. Maben the friendship  
of R. Frank Welton, president of the company in the early years of the century 
and grandfather of the president, R. F. Welton 3rd.

The late R. F. Welton, Jr., who also served as president, held a close 
attachment for Mr. Maben.  Both were avid baseball fans, the two staged a 
regular morning ritual of discussing the merits of their favorite teams during 
the baseball season.

Mr. Maben had his fist airplane ride, a trip to a World Series, as a guest of 
the company, outfitted in new tie, shirt, and hat.  These trips became annual 
pilgrimages, and officials  of the Granby street store gathered around him for 
an hour’s recital of his experiences when he returned to work.

He also appeared on radio to describe his trips, and won wider popularity 
because of his facile memory and ease in conversation.

During the late years Mr. Maben had his work hours and days reduced, but he 
continued to be one of the most popular and trusted employees of the company.

During his illness, and after his death, store officials visited at his home.  
Richard  F. Welton 3rd made arrangements for his funeral.

On Wednesday the company’s president headed a delegation which included R. H. B. 
Welton, vice president;  C. R. Eason, secretary-treasurer;  John R. Burton, 
public relations director;  Mrs. Hazel Brown, personnel director;  B. A. Leitch, 
a buyer;  Robert H. Porter, retired buyer who had been friendly with Mr. Maben 
since the early days of the century;  August Culpepper and Lewis Worrell, 
buyers;  Robert E. Atkinson, building superintendent;  and James A. Gay, 
delivery superintendent.

Active pallbearers from the delivery department were Levi Wilson, David Edwards, 
Willie Edwards, George Jackson, Norman Cooper and Joseph Teshara.

Honorary pallbearers were Moses Dozier, Molden Johnson and George Fisher, Sr.

Son of the late Jordan Maben and Mrs. Mary Maben, the deceased is survived by 
his wife, Mrs. Izora Johnson Maben, and four nieces, Mrs. Naomi Outlaw of New 
York City, and Mrs. Susie Hodges, Mrs. Beatrice Robinson and Mrs. Maude Francis, 
all of Norfolk.


Additional Comments:
Calvary Cemetery

MABEN, CHARLES I25839 Section 1, Lot 43, Space SW, 04/20/1960

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