Charles Alden Learned, who spent almost thirty years in the brokerage business in Wichita, KS, before retiring to Bella Vista, AR, departed this life Wednesday evening, May 24, with his devoted wife, Mary, at his side.  He was 89.

Born in Stafford, KS, on Sept. 14, 1933, Charles and his three siblings were raised on a forty-acre wheat farm in nearby Zenith by their parents, Wilmer and Vivian Learned.  Their home had no running water or electricity but did have a clay tennis court, where Charles began playing the sport he enjoyed into his eighties.  He lettered in tennis, basketball and football at Stafford High School as well as at Sterling College, from which he graduated in 1955.  He paid his way through college by working as a laborer at the nearby salt mine in Lyons, KS.

While enrolled at Sterling, Charles Learned married Sarah Jean Starbuck, a gifted piano player.  They met when she accompanied his solo at a church service.  They were married at Zenith Community Church in 1954 and their only child, Rodney, was born the following summer.  The family moved to Wichita in 1956, where Charles eventually worked for the bond departments of Stockyards National Bank, Mid-Continent Securities, and then Columbian Securities, where he became a senior vice president before establishing his own firm, Learned Investments.  After the couple moved to Bella Vista in 1987, he continued to play tennis and participated in countless gospel "sings" throughout the region.

Charles Learned was predeceased by his wife of fifty years, Jean, in 2004; by his wife of almost fourteen years, Fay Dean Learned, in 2019; and by all three of his siblings: older brother, Arthur in 2006, younger brother, Wesley in 2016, and younger sister, Edith Ann in 2022.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ashby Learned, whom he had known for more than forty years and with whom he celebrated a third anniversary on May 2; son, Rod and his wife, Valerie Laham Learned of Wichita; granddaughter, Erin and her husband, Dr. Joe Ghata of Edmond, OK.; grandson, Alex and his wife, Caroline El-Chaar Learned of Wichita; and two precious great-grandsons, Philip and Samuel Learned.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 502 W Lancashire Blvd., Bella Vista, AR 72715.

In lieu of flowers, donations be made to your church's preferred missions organization or to Bella Vista Meals on Wheels at 2 Earby Lane, Bella Vista, AR 72714.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory.  On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.