Charles Franklin Alden III

Alden, Charles Franklin, III, age 76, of Edmond, died peacefully on November 5, 2023, surrounded by his family. Born May 6, 1947 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Charlie was the oldest of four children born to Charles F. Alden, Jr. and Virginia Bell (Taylor) Alden. As a young man, Charlie’s family moved to Oklahoma City. Charlie graduated from John Marshall High School in 1965, where he was a state champion diver and swimmer. He went on to study Political Science at Oklahoma State University, where he was a member of the Army ROTC, the National Society of Scabbard and Blade and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Charlie was commissioned into the United States Army Reserve on July 14, 1970 from which he was honorably discharged on July 17, 1980. He attended Oklahoma City University School of Law and graduated second in his class. He was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1973.

After graduating from law school, he was briefly employed as an Assistant Municipal Counselor for the City of Oklahoma City, followed by a stint as an Assistant District Attorney for Oklahoma County. He then entered the private practice of law, and he continued representing clients in that capacity until shortly before his death. Charlie stated on more than one occasion that “a man who loves his job will never work,” and no one loved the study and practice of law more than he did. In particular, he took great pride in representing other lawyers. He was named Attorney of the Year for 1996 by the Central Oklahoma Association of Legal Assistants. He was a member of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Inn of Court.

Charlie fell in love with and married Linda Helen Burns on January 24, 1970, and they were with each other through all of life’s many ups and downs. They had two daughters, Amy and Shannon. Charlie worked hard, and he played hard. He loved shooting, skiing, boating, scuba diving, and, until he injured himself doing it, riding his Harley Davidson. He instilled his love of the Rocky Mountains in his children and grandchildren, with many family vacations spent four-wheeling in the Alpine Loop near Silverton, Colorado. If Charlie was interested in something, he devoted himself utterly to its mastery. To that end, Charlie obtained his pilot’s license and multiple HAM radio licenses. A patriot, Charlie was a student of history and an avid reader of American political and military history. He was a member at St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived and loved by his wife, Linda Alden; daughters, Amy L. Alden and Shannon L. Reynolds (Travis) both of Edmond; grandchildren, Charles Alexander “Alex” Reynolds and Emma L. Reynolds; sisters Susan Virginia Morton (Steven) of Marshall, Texas, Katharine Elizabeth “Betsy” Bergin (Michael) of Oklahoma City and brother John Scott Alden of Claremore, Oklahoma. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service celebrating Charlie’s life will take place on November 16, 2023, at 2:00 p.m at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 222 N.W. 15th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103.