Charles Albert Dashley, Jr

Charles Albert Dashley, Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away Monday, November 16, 2020, at 84 years old.

Charles was born on October 13, 1936, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Loretta and Charles A. Dashley, Sr. His sisters, Doris and Linda, were born in 1928 and 1949, respectively.

He married the love of his life, Katheryn Dashley, in 1956, when they were 19 and 17 years old. In 1960, Charles and Kay welcomed Michael Dashley to the world. His birth was followed by Todd in 1963 and Jeffrey in 1974. Charles and Kay also had a son named Mark, who died shortly after birth in 1962.

In 1990, he became a grandfather for the first time when his grandson Benjamin was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Six years later, his granddaughter Brynn was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He became a great-grandfather in 2018 and again in 2020. His third great-grandchild is due in April 2021.

Known by many as “Dash,” Charles loved his family and dogs more than anything in the world. His life was simple: provide for his family and not worry about impressing others. He simply wanted to work and get home to his dog and family. Even while working 60 hours a week as a restaurateur, he never failed to show up for any of his children’s sporting events.

He was also a devoted supporter of Kay’s successful political career, as she became Clerk-Treasurer of their hometown of Cumberland, Indiana.

Those who knew him late in life were likely unaware of his artistic talents. His charcoal drawing of two prizefighters hung in New York’s Carnegie Hall for years, and he was invited to study at The Art Institute of Chicago. He chose instead to pursue a career in food service, retiring in the early 2000s.

In 1997, a family friend introduced Charles to fantasy football, and the Gridiron Godfather was born. For the next 15 years of his retirement, Dash would dedicate his TV time to investigating injuries and various ways to win. While all of us were at work, his job was Fantasy Football.

He loved the many generations of his big blue recliner, in which he watched football every Sunday afternoon and Jeopardy! every night. He rarely missed a question on the show, much to the amazement of his family. For much of his life, he sported an iconic mustache, similar to Alex Trebek. Their decisions to shave were met with equal uproar in the Dashley house.

He was the lion of the family. Dash was reasoned, never harsh and extremely affable. He was entirely happy on his own but loved it when other people, especially his family, were around. He rarely, if ever, raised his voice or said anything out of anger. His stare spoke volumes, and so did his contagious laugh that always seemed to lift the room and make jokes even funnier.

He had a quick wit, even until the last conversations he had with his family. He rarely hugged or said “I love you,” but his family knew that he showed his love in other ways: offering a chocolate or butterscotch sweet from the stash next to his chair, making white bread, swiss cheese and mayonnaise sandwiches for his grandkids, waving goodbye on the front porch as anyone left the house.

Dash had an uncanny ability to make every conversation seem special. He was uniquely funny, smart and charming. He is dearly missed by many.

Charles is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Kay Dashley; their children, Mike Dashley, Todd Dashley (Sharon), and Jeffrey Dashley (Jane); his sister, Linda Wolterman (Eddie); his grandchildren, Benjamin Dashley (Sarah) and Brynn Flook (Logan); and his great-grandchildren, Saoirse and Elsie Flook. His third great-grandchild is due to be born in April 2021.

Private family services will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2020.   You are welcome to join the family at 12 PM via webcast at https://youtu.be/4rWk_4v8414.

Memorial donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association, 8604 Allisonville Rd, Suite 140, Indianapolis, IN 46250.