Charles Hugh Self

Charles Self

Charles Hugh Self of Springville, AL was born on July 11, 1933 in Trussville, AL to Hugh and Annabel Self. He lost his only brother, Buddy, early in life, but he shared a special bond with his little sister, Shirley Ann. Even in adulthood, he would visit her daily, and her face would light up the second he entered the room. After their parents passed away, Charles helped care for Ann until her death.

After attending Hewitt-Trussville High School, Charles joined the Navy in July of 1951 and served as a gunner on a bomber plane until he was medically discharged in 1953. He would often talk of his adventures in Alaska and Japan. Charlie was always up for a new challenge. Though he was known as “Chicken” by his childhood friends, he was the complete opposite, a man who was never afraid to take a risk.

Charles married Zona Ruth Taylor in 1953 and they had two children whom he is survived by, Debra Michalke (Mike) and Rick Self (Tim Kast). Before Zona’s death in 1995, they also had two grandchildren, Amy Bond (Chris) and Matthew Michalke (Emily), whom they took on many adventures in their RV, making memories to last a lifetime. He was affectionately named “Big Daddy” by his grandchildren and has been known by that name ever since.

Charlie is also survived by his wife of twenty-nine years, Rose Self, and his stepson, David King (Holly). He and Rose shared fun times together riding their matching Harleys and helping to raise their three grandchildren, Chayce (Aleigha), Taylor, and Jayce King. Big Daddy loved his children, grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren very much, buying them their first cars, horses, and bags of apples that he’d deliver every few weeks.

Always wanting to try something new, Charlie traveled to California and Florida to find work as a lithographer in his younger years. He always worked to be a faithful provider for his family. During his time in Florida, he was taught how to fly by an 80-year-old woman and would then fly home on the weekends to visit his wife and children, sometimes skimming the treetops to avoid bad weather. Once he even built his own airplane in the garage. He spent time working at Trussville Motors when he moved back home.

Charlie made many friends through his love of automobiles and spent years refurbishing and collecting antique cars. He was a member of the Alabama Auto Racing Pioneers, Inc. He combined his love of cars and his lifelong dream, becoming a business owner in September of 1978 when he opened Astro Auto Dismantlers, Inc. in Brighton, AL, proudly selling salvaged Ford parts. He ran his business with integrity and enthusiasm, using it as a means to bless and provide for others, including his employees, until May of 2012 when he retired to spend more time in his personal garage working on his antique cars. He always had friends stopping by or calling him on the phone because he loved people and they loved him.

Charles was a member of Deerfoot Baptist Church.

Big Daddy will be sorely missed by his family. We have no doubt that he loved us deeply, and we are thankful for the good man he was, the kindness he showed to many, and the fact that we will see him again one day.