Rama Challen

Rama C. Challen, 87, of Port Charlotte, FL, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Saturday, August 5, 2006, at his home in Port Charlotte. Visitation will begin after 12:00 noon on Friday, August 18, 2006, at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. that evening. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 19, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Edward R. Peterson officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church or to Hospice of Central Iowa in his memory. Rama Carter Challen was born on August 15, 1919, in Cherokee, AL, the son of James Johnston and Sallie Carter Challen. He graduated from Louisiana Technical University in 1941. After graduation, Rama worked for General Motors until he joined the U. S. Army Air Corps. During that time, he was stationed in Mt. Pleasant as a permanent party with the Air Corps at Iowa Wesleyan College. Later he was stationed in Kingman, AZ and Roswell, NM, until the end of the war. While in Mt. Pleasant, he married Zella Mallams on February 14, 1944. The Challens lived briefly in Tuscumbia, AL, where he worked at Reynolds Aluminum Company until 1947. The couple then moved to Mt. Pleasant where Rama opened Challen Bookkeeping and Accounting. He continued to grow his thriving business for 35 years. Mr. Challen was the Mt. Pleasant City Clerk for 31 years, the secretary for the Mt. Pleasant Utilities for 31 years, and also owned the Credit Bureau for 30 years. He retired in 1984. Mr. Challen's retirement years were spent with six months in Mt. Pleasant and six months in Florida. Over the years, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and playing golf. An especially proud moment came in September of 1979, when he made a hole-in-one at the Mt. Pleasant Golf and Country Club on hole number 5. His greatest love was spending time with all of his family. Rama was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant and was a volunteer for the American Red Cross for 25 years. Rama is survived by Zella, his wife of 62 years; two sons, Carter Challen and his wife Amy of Port Charlotte, FL, and John Challen of San Diego, CA; two grandchildren, Eric Challen and his wife Rona and their children Jacob and Jordan, and Phillip Challen and his wife Jennifer, and their children Alexis and Caleb. Also surviving is one brother Billy Challen. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, four sisters and by one son, Gary Challen.