Dr. Charles B. “Charlie” Aiken
Dr. Charles B. “Charlie” Aiken, former Director of Missions of the Pikes Peak Baptist Association and Baptist minister, age 88, of Colorado Springs, Colorado died Wednesday morning, February 18, 2015 after a short illness. He was born December 5, 1926 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Charlie was the son of the late Wade and Tersie Smith Aiken and he was also preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Aiken Raynor.
Earlier in his life, Charlie forfeited the pursuit of a college education and went to work for Pacific Mills near Spartanburg, South Carolina, in order to support his mother and sister. From 1944 to 1946, he answered the Nation’s call to duty and served in the United States Navy.
During many years as a Baptist minister, Charlie preached revivals in Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, and Wyoming. From 1961 until 2000, he pastored Colorado churches in Monte Vista, Pueblo, and Colorado Springs. He served two terms as president of the Colorado Baptist General Convention. He also served seven years as a trustee of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board. He authored 65 booklets on Biblical interpretation, Church administration, missions, strategic planning, and conflict.
In 1993, as a result of his numerous ministry achievements, the Anchor Theological Seminary in Texarkana, Arkansas honored Charlie with a Doctor of Divinity degree. In his spare time, he was an accomplished photographer and painter of Colorado’s beautiful mountain scenery. He was a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Colorado Springs.
Charlie is survived by his loving wife, Evelyn, a faithful partner in the ministry with him for the past 60 years of marriage. He is also survived by countless pastors, deacons, churches, families, men and women whose lives were impacted for eternity by Charlie’s faithful witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Funeral services for Dr. Charles B. Aiken will be held at the Fellowship of the Rockies Church of Colorado Springs on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. with Chaplain Major General (U.S. Army, Ret.) Doug Carver, officiating with interment to follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.
Family and friends can honor Dr. Aiken at a viewing at Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd., on Monday, February 23, 2015, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Please honor Charlie Aiken’s life at www.shrineofremembrance.com by posting your tributes and memories.