Charles Wayne Price, born October 8, 1940, in New Hope Community near Junction City, Arkansas passed away on January 29, 2026 at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas at the age of 85. His home was Smackover, Arkansas.
Charles was called Charles Wayne by his cousins, Charlie by his friends and racing buddies, and Chachi by his grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many others in his church and community. He worked for many years as a carpenter and contractor, for twenty-five years at El Dorado Glass and Mirror, and spent the rest of his life pursuing his life-long passion of building and rebuilding engines, especially high-performance racing motors, particularly if they were Fords. He owned his own business, CMS Racing Engines.
Charlie loved his Lord and Savior, and was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church of Smackover, and in 1974 joined the fellowship of First Baptist Church of Smackover, where he served as a deacon, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the audio/visual team, and as a member of various other committees.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Pauline Anglin Price. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Nancy Harp Price of Smackover, daughter Jonna Bates (Greg) of Smackover, son Jeff Price (Melanie) of Smackover, grandsons Logan Bradley (Megan) of Stonewall, Louisiana, Landon Bradley (Delaney) of Lincoln, Arkansas, and granddaughter Jordan Price of Jonesboro, Arkansas. He had six great-grandchildren: Spencer Bradley, Emma Claire Bradley, Eli Bradley, Hudson Bradley, Harrison Bradley, and Hays Bradley. Also surviving are his sister, Johnette Daniels of Dothan, Alabama, brother-in-law Bobby Harp (Debbie) of Mountain Home, Arkansas, and a sister-in-law, Tonya Corley (Mark) of Smackover.
Charlie was known around this area for his ability to fix anything, diagnose an engine problem just by the sound (even though he was quite deaf), and his love and patience for his wife and family. He never met a stranger, and liked everyone.
Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m., Monday, February 2, 2026, with funeral services to follow, at First Baptist Church of Smackover with the Rev. Carley Davis officiating. Interment will follow privately at Smackover Cemetery under the direction of Young's Funeral Home.
Donations may be made in Charlie's memory to First Baptist Church of Smackover.
Condolences can be expressed online at www.youngsfuneralhome.com for the Price family.
