Charles Hayden Seward

Charles Hayden “Rusty” Seward passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at Ascention St. Thomas Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN. He was cared for and loved by many at the Tennessee State Veterans Home in Murfreesboro for the past seven years.

He was born at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, TN, on June 16, 1931 to James LeRoy Seward and Edna Mable Abernathy Seward. He was the second in a family of five children - James, Diane, David, and Sandra.

Charles spent his childhood and years as a young man living and working in Tullahoma, TN. After moving over from Boy Scout Troop 112 he became one of the original forming members of Troop 142 in 1947 where he eventually accomplished the rank of Eagle Scout.  He played football in high school and enjoyed the victory of winning a state championship in the Crimson Bowl. Immediately following high school graduation Charles joined the United States Navy on June 18, 1951 serving our country in the Korean Conflict. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown until June of 1955 after which he returned to Tullahoma. He remained in Tullahoma living and working. He became interested in furniture crafting and was very handy at making various pieces of furniture which also included doll furniture some of which is still used by a great niece today.  He loved his church and had been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Tullahoma. He was very fond of music, anything from country to classical, and especially the patriotic anthems. He enjoyed people and would strike up a conversation with no effort.

Following the death of his father in December 1991 and mother in April 1994 he moved to Cleveland, OH near his eldest brother James. He remained in the Cleveland area until December 2013 at which time he moved back to TN residing in Murfreesboro.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents James L Seward and Edna Mable Seward, his brother James Seward, his sister Diane Seward Price Whitfield, his brother David Seward and is survived by his sister Sandra Seward Campbell of Denver, CO and his sister-in-law Carmen Riascos Seward of Alabaster, AL, along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

Burial will be in Tuscaloosa Memorial Cemetery, Tuscaloosa, AL. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to The VA Fisher House, Alvin C. York VA, 3400 Lebanon Pike, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 or Healing4Heros.org (connecting wounded military service members with ADA compliant service dogs).

Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve The Seward Family. 

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