Charles L. Bloss Jr. “Charlie”, “Bud”, “Twinkie”, “Rev CL”, passed away peacefully at his home in Lecompton on May 16th, 2024.
Charlie was born on July 31, 1946 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Mary Alice Carnes Bloss and Dr. Charles L. Bloss Sr. His family moved to Dallas, Texas a year later. He was baptized at East Dallas Christian Church in 1959 and graduated from Greenhill High School in 1965. He moved to Topeka, Kansas where he joined the Topeka Police Department as a Dispatcher and became a Reserve Officer for the Shawnee County Sheriffs Department. He graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy in Hutchinson, Kansas and became a Deputy Sheriff in 1974. He worked in multiple departments in his career: Dispatch, Warrants, Prisoner Transport, Process, Records and his last job was in Courthouse Security before he retired in 1997. He loved working in the courthouse, becoming friends with all the judges.
He was named Officer of the Year in 1994 by the Insurance Women of Topeka and was recognized for his bravery with the Medal of Valor for his role in the Frank Carlson Federal Building incident in 1993.
He married Beth Meinhardt on April 26th, 1986. She survives at their home. Also surviving at their home are his furkids, Ranger, Smokey and Sami He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Robert Bloss and his wife Linda of Houston, Texas, his brother, Dr. William Bloss and his wife Martha of Winterville, North Carolina, nephew Robert Scott Bloss of Liberty Hill, Texas, Nephew William Paul Bloss Jr. and his wife Roxanne of Charleston, South Carolina, niece Marilyn Bloss Koester and her husband Drew, Great niece Mary Lee Fontana, Great nephews George and John Fontana, all of Memphis, Tennessee.
Furkids that passed before him are Angel, a black Labrador that he rescued shortly after retiring and was very special to him, Sabbath, Mr. Duke, Patches, Tyger, Midnite and J. Edgar Hoover, a black cat that he gave to his wife when they first met and had for 19 years. Part of the ashes of the furkids that passed before him will be added to his ashes per his wishes. We know he is happy to be reunited with them in Heaven.
Charlie loved his Diet Mountain Dew and Twinkies. He ate so many Twinkies trying to gain weight back that the Cancer Center nicknamed him”Twinkie”. He and his two brothers all called each other “Bud” He was also called Reverand CL by a lot of his co-workers at the Sheriffs Department because the Warrants Department got Credentials of Ministry, so Charlie’s department all had to get theirs also.
Charlie loved Bald Eagles and took many exceptional pictures of them. He has a house full of Eagle figurines and pictures. He also loved elephants and has many figurines in his office. He loved James Arness and Gunsmoke and never missed a show. He enjoyed playing “Santa Claus” for a number of year after retiring. He was also a Life member of the National Rifle Association.
Memorial contributions can be sent to S.C.A.R.S. (Second Chance Animal Rescue Society) at P.O. Box 22 Auburn, KS. 66402
Celebration of Life Services will be held on Saturday, June 29th at 11:00 A.M. in the Chapel of the Lane University Museum at 625 Woodsen Ave in Lecompton,where he and Beth were married 38 years ago. Following the service, there will be a gathering at the Fellowship Hall at the United Methodist Church at 402 Elmore in Lecompton for cookies and drinks and time to visit with the family. Arrangements are with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence.
