After a long and full life, Charles Newbill, of Overland Park, passed away on September 2, 2025 at the age of 77.
Charles “Charlie” Newbill, led a robust, multi-faceted life with many experiences over the years, but was especially known for his marvelously charismatic, warm personality that showcased his sparkling blue eyes & brilliant smile. His observant ways, quick humor and dry wit kept us on our toes, with the best memories being his playful grin and the best sound being his joyful and hearty laugh.
He had an innate passion for photography, a thrilling love of fast cars, playing the drums and piano by ear, and true dedication to quality sound and music while curating incredible home sound systems. Charlie’s unquenchable spirit of adventure lived out in impromptu moments like flipping a coin for which direction to head on a weekend trip, driving his Jeep up mountain roads, and even a pet monkey in his younger days. In midlife, he enjoyed a wide array of interests such as owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, weightlifting, exploring Asian cuisine while learning how to cook with a wok, and having egg roll making parties with his children where even the neighborhood kids joined in. His creative and adventurous ways were likely derived from his dad, Charles “Papa”, being an entrepreneurial businessman and his mom, Ruby “Bom-Bom”, with her musical talents, that included playing the piano for silent films with her twin sister in the 1920s. Each of his three children also carry these similar and fun attributes.
Charles Franklin Newbill, Jr. was born in Clinton, MO on October 25, 1947 to Charles and Ruby Newbill, and sister, Caroline Lack, all of whom preceded him in death. Charlie was raised in the First Christian Church in Clinton, MO and made an early commitment to Christ as a child. He reaffirmed that commitment in 1981 at the Butte Assembly of God and was baptized at the Clinton Assembly of God in 1982. He became involved with church activities and ensured he raised his family to know Christ, attending City Center Church (formerly Lenexa Christian Center) for the past 40 years.
Growing up, Charlie was very active in Boy Scouts, baseball and football. In Boy Scouts, he achieved several honors such as Eagle Scout and Tribe of Mic-O-Say. He was also the first freshman to play on the senior varsity football team as a linebacker, winning varsity letter and pin. After high school, he attended CSU for one year and then went to work with his dad and uncle at Talley Amusement Co. until 1975 when he transitioned to restaurant management with Pizza Hut and Godfather’s Pizza for the next 25 years. In 1998, he made a successful career pivot as a massage therapist, helping to open the JC Penney Day Spa at Oak Park Mall and remained there until his health started to fail in 2004.
In the summer of 1969, while riding his motorcycle, he met Nina Kerns but didn’t realize she would become his wife. They saw each other again at a hippy commune party months later in the fall, talking briefly, and then kept bumping into one another around town until he actually asked her on a real date. In the summer of 1970, as he put it in a letter to a friend in the military, he had met a naive country girl that he had fallen for, “hook line and sinker” and asked her to marry him. Of course, due to his considerable charm and wild ways, she said yes. Three months later, on September 12, 1970, they were married at First Christian Church in Clinton, MO. Their love for one another was unconditional and they vowed their marriage would be forever, which it was. Nina often said, “being married to Charlie was like being tied to the tail of a kite in a tornado” - he always kept life adventurous and interesting, but that was one of the many traits she loved most about him and their life together. Life’s journey wasn’t always smooth, though their young love withstood the test of time and they celebrated with many creative gifts and love letters for each other over the years. Keeping with adventure, their address changed many times from living small town life in Clinton, MO, to mountain life in Butte, MT, and then city life in Overland Park, KS. They cherished their short time in Montana the most as it was a place of beauty, adventure, and joy for each of them – which led to many trips back and memories made as a family. They were celebrating 55 years of marriage as of September 2025. Nina remained dedicated to Charlie’s care even when his health further declined and ensured he had nothing but the best of care from her over their last 21 years together. Through the toughest of those years, they truly enjoyed each other’s company and loved each other with laughter and tears.
As a father, he very much wanted to be involved in each of his children’s lives and in his later years, was always available for a coffee date, a drive, or playing cards. He really enjoyed hearing his kids talk about their day to day and big life decisions, with sage advice from his well-lived life, encouragement, and that twinkle in his eyes.
Charlie is deeply loved and remembered by his incredible wife, Nina, children Chaz (granddaughter Paige), Chandra (husband Marlon), and Chalanna, niece, nephew, and their children.
A celebration of his life was held Saturday, September 20 at Powell Community Center, Mission, KS,
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
