Charles Marvin (Bud) Byers, age 88 of Ellenboro died Thursday, January 22, 2026.  Bud as he was known to his family and friends, was born on September 15, 1937, in Rutherford County and was a son of the late Marvin Hampton Byers and Gertrude Sisk Byers.  

Charles was a graduate of Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School, and he honorably served in the United States Air Force. He was extremely honored to serve his country, and he continued to support all veterans and troops.   He enjoyed vegetable gardening and, in his garden, he displayed the American flag along with the flags of every branch of service which attracted the attention and admiration of both locals and those in surrounding counties.  

He began his career in trucking with Akers Motor Lines and later with Roadway Freight and finally with Yellow Freight where he retired after 42 years of dedicated service.  He was a proud member of the Teamsters, Forest City Masonic Lodge No. 381 AF&AM, Woodman of the World and was a Shriner.  Charles was a member of the Corinth Baptist Church in Ellenboro and with the help of other church members established the Veterans Memorial in the cemetery.  He was awarded the Order of the Longleaf Pine by former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.   

He was very active in the Rutherford County Republican Party, and he supported many candidates running for local, state, and national elections, placing campaign signs in every yard and street corner he could.  He enjoyed tracking the trends of and outcome of every election.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Willia Mae Byers Cooper, and brothers, William Edward (Jim) Byers, and Robert Gerald (Jerry) Byers.

Survivors include his wife, Melba Waters Byers, his son, C. Philip Byers of Forest City, his daughters, Lynn Byers Flack and husband, Dr. John E. Flack of Forest City, Kerrie Byers Earley and husband, Shane of Ellenboro, his granddaughter, Natalie Kathleen Flack of Forest City, his sister, Ruby Byers Bright and sister-in-law Dianne Earley Byers both of Rutherfordton.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held at 3 o’clock on Friday, January 30, 2026, in The Padgett and King Chapel with the Reverend Ad Hopper officiating.  Interment will follow at Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 1 until 2:45 prior to the service at the mortuary.

The family requests memorials to kindly be made to Corinth Baptist Church, 767 Pinehurst Road, Ellenboro, NC 28040.

The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory is in charge of arrangements, and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com