Grayson County TXGenWeb

Denison - MSGT Charles Claude Rister, 56, died in his Denison, Texas home August 16, 2017. A funeral service was held Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at the Bratcher Funeral Home Chapel; burial followed in Oakwood Cemetery in Denison.
Charles was born November 27, 1960 to Charles Roy Rister and Lorraine A. Cooley in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. He was a 1979 graduate of Denison High school and began his military career June 6, 1979. He served 22 years in the U.S. Army, attending basic training and AIT at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma for Cannon Crewman training (MOS 13 Bravo); he was assigned to the 2nd Batalion/5th Field Artillery at Babenhausen, Germany from September 1979 to March 1982. He was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington with the 3rd Battalion/34th Field Artillery one year, April 1982 - April 1983. He attended training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma for Lance Missile Crewman (MOS 13 November) from May 1983 - June 1983. He was stationed at Oderzo, Italy in the 12th U.S. Army Field Artillery Warhead Detachment August 1984 - August 1988. He was stationed at Corpus Christi, Texas as a recruiter September 1988 - August 1990. He was stationed at Herzo Base, Germany with the 2nd Battalion/12th Field Artillery in September 1990. He attended training at Ft. Gordon, Georgia as a communication Security Equipment repairer (MOS29 Sierra) April 1992 - March 1993. He was stationed at Ft. Richie, Maryland with the 11th Signal Battalion April 1993 - March 1996. He was stationed at Yongsan, South Korea with the headquarters Company 1st Signal Brigade April 1996 - March 1997. He was assigned to the 75th Division at Ft. Riley with Duty at Camp Dodge, Iowa as an instructor and non-commissioned officer in charge April 1997 - June 2001. He received full retirement June 2001.
His distinguished career and awards included:
2 Meritous Service medals
7 Army Commendations
5 Army achievement medals
Korea Defense medal
National Defense Service medal
4 overseas deployments, totaling 9 years
Expert Markmanship badge
Recruiter badge
German Schutzenshur
Grayson College Deans Honor Roll
Texoma Heroes First Recipient
2-time VFW Commander
lifetime VFW member
He is survived by his daughter, Adele Nicole Rister Rose and husband, Eric Rose; grandson, Landon Cox; granddaughter, Kaylee Rose; sons, Charles Claude Rister and spouse Angel; Eric Armstrong and spouse Cassie Tonasket; sister, Adele Bimbaum; niece, Tammy Hall; nephews, J. Bimbaum, Raymond Smith, Michael Milstead, Dwayne Milstead, Donald Lee Milstead, and Ricky Milstead; uncle, Robert Cooley; Michael Riser; several cousins.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Lorraine Cooley; father, Charles R. Rister; sister, Alma Riggins; aunts, Carol Cooley and Emma Cooley; and nephew, Billy Milstead.