Charles Franklin Donham Sr.
T/4 in Signal Co, Special : Inst & Maint; Telephone & Wire
Military occupational specialty: 641 (field lineman)
ASN#38503197
Born 1922 in AR, Died 2003
Other residence(s): Collins, AR; Roswell, NM; Little Rock, AR
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Charlie Donham was born on July 22, 1922 in Collins, AR, the fourth of nine children. His father grew cotton and corn.
He left school after the 7th grade and went to work on his father’s farm. He married Olive Inez Cooper on February 20, 1942, and enlisted a year later. He appears to have learned some electrical skills between 1940 and 1943, since he was assigned to the Signal Company Special as a field lineman. He served in Europe with the unit, and was discharged on November 13, 1945 with the rank of T/4.
After the war, he took up electricity as a trade. His career path isn’t entirely clear, but by 1950 he was working in Roswell, NM as a foreman electrician with a construction company. He and his wife had become the parents of a son, Charles Jr., in 1946.
Charlie eventually increased his electrical business, incorporating as Donham Industrial Electric in North Little Rock, AR, and serving as its president. The company appears to have focused on large scale commercial, municipal, and industrial electrical infrastructure in Little Rock and neighboring counties. One example of their work was the electrical contract for a new medical clinic in Conway, AR that was constructed in 1973.
He also served as president of Jennifer Construction Co.
Charlie died on March 29, 2003 in Little Rock, and is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Monticello, AR.
Sources:
1930 census
1940 census
1942 Arkansas marriage certificate
1950 census
1973 article in the Log Cabin Democrat (Conway, AR) about a construction project for Donham Industrial Electric
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1220916544/?match=1&terms=donham%20electric%20
1979 article in the Arkansas Democrat describes his company role
2003 Social Security death index
2003 VA death record
2003 Find a Grave record
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36075833/charles-franklin-donham