Mon, Feb 2, 2004

Charles T. "Charlie" Tonkens, 61, of St. Simons Island died Friday at the local hospital.

A native of Jersey City, N.J., Mr. Tonkens had been a resident of St. Simons Island for more than 17 years. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1986 and was a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Mr. Tonkens was a teacher and principal at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and a school psychologist for the Glynn County school system. He was a member of Golden Isles Masonic Lodge No. 707 F. & A. M., Neptune Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, the Glynco Detachment 716 of the Marine Corps League in Brunswick and the Retired Officers Association. Mr. Tonkens was a member of Christ Church, Frederica and attended St. Ignatius Episcopal Church.

The funeral service will be at held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Christ Church, Frederica with the Revs. Douglas Renegar, Joel Keys and Cletus Pifher officiating. Burial, with Masonic rites, will follow in Christ Churchyard Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Masonic York Rite and Scottish Rite Bodies, Golden Isles Lodge No. 707 F. & A. M., Eastern Star, staff and faculty of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and Risley Middle School, school psychologists and members of the Fleet Reserve Association.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Home or St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, 1121 Union Street, Brunswick, GA 31520.

Mr. Tonkens is survived by his wife, Orita R. Tonkens of St. Simons Island, and other relatives.