The Tennessee Health Care Association named Charles Brock, an 84-year-old resident at Life Care Center of Ooltewah, to its list of Who’s Who in Tennessee Long-Term Care.
Richard Ervin, executive director at the skilled nursing and rehab center, presented the certificate to Mr. Brock on May 15.
“I and my family feel honored by the recognition,” said Mr. Brock.
Mr. Brock was born in McDonald, Tn. in 1930. His father, Ray L. Brock, was an auto mechanic and at one point a deputy sheriff for Bradley County. His mother, Ila, served for many years as the postmistress of the McDonald Post Office, which was adjacent to the family’s house.
After graduating from Bradley County High School in 1949, Mr. Brock dug tunnels for Armco Drainage and Metal Products, including working on the Bachman Tunnel in Chattanooga.
In November 1950, Mr. Brock joined the Marines, and after boot camp at Parris Island, SC, and training at Camp Pendleton in California, he was assigned as a military policeman at a guard camp on the island of Guam in the South Pacific.
Mr. Brock returned to the States and worked for several years at DuPont, a chemical company in Chattanooga. After his mother passed away in 1960, he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary “Tootie” Benton. She was the vice president and treasurer of Simpson Construction in Cleveland, Tn. until her death.
In 1968, Mr. Brock and his brother Calvin opened a Sinclair gas and repair station in Cleveland, where they worked for several years selling gas and fixing cars.
When the Olin Corporation opened a chemical plant nearby, Mr. Brock and his brother closed the station and went to work at the new plant, and Mr. Brock repaired the instruments used in making chlorine.
“All of Bill’s jobs involved fixing things,” said Marie Ross, activity director at Life Care Center of Ooltewah. “He is known in the community as Mr. Fix-it. He has always fixed anything – toasters, air rifles, washing machines, televisions, radios, lawnmowers and cars – for anyone who asked, at no cost to them.”
Mr. Brock is a lifelong member of the McDonald United Methodist Church, and over the years, he served in multiple positions at the church. He and his wife would even patch through on ham radio to family members serving as foreign missionaries.
Mrs. Benton passed away of a brain tumor in 2002, and Mr. Brock cared for her at home. He has preserved his house the way it was before her passing, even keeping her purse on the dresser where she left it.
Mr. Brock has preserved much more. He put his extensive and beautiful property – including a farm and house – into the Tennessee Land Trust. The property cannot be divided or developed.
“This means our little valley will always remain as it is now,” said Ms. Ross. “What a great, unselfish gift to future generations.”