Charles Thomas Sellars, 85, of Morganton, NC, passed away Monday, January 5, 2026 while surrounded by family.
Born in Buncombe County, NC on November 16, 1940, he was the son of the late John Floyd Sellars, Sr. and Bertha Barbara Goodman Sellars.
Charles was an extremely hard worker in the furniture industry. He worked his way up to partner with Woodfield Limited / Bradington Young Furniture before “retiring” at age 49. During his working years, he and Barbara built four homes, raised two children, traveled to numerous states, and tolerated all kinds of pets: from opossums, to ducks, to rats, to dogs, and cats (as long as they weren’t in the house.)
Things changed with his retirement. Charles worked as a consultant from Tennessee to Greensboro and started Hickory West Furniture Company. He also served as primary lawnmower blade and chainsaw chain sharpener at his son’s small business, Cary Mower and Saw. He helped his wife, Barbara, restore antique trunks, and became an amateur wine maker, and allowed their dog (3rd child) to stay in the house.
Charles volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and spent most mornings discussing/solving the world’s problems during breakfast at various local restaurants. He was an active member of Oak Hill United Methodist Church and was instrumental in the construction of the Multipurpose Activity Building. Mr. Sellars enjoyed beekeeping, raising flower gardens (especially daylilies), growing vegetables, and decorative gourds. He also stayed active with golf, tennis, taking walks, and fishing.
Most of all, Charles was a family man. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and he was especially fond of his grandsons, Joseph and Charlie.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Barbara Cobb Sellars; son, Charles Thomas “Tommy” Sellars, Jr. and wife, Emily; daughter, Tammy Sellars Chapman and husband, Scotty (and his son, Matthew Chapman and wife, Lindsey); grandchildren, Charles Thomas “Charlie” Sellars, III and Joseph England and his fiancé, Nicole (and her children, Mason and Clayton); sisters, Agnes Babboni, Floydene Kitchlings, and Mary Little; brother, Bill Sellars; and numerous extended family.
In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by a brother, Johnny Sellars.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2026 in the multipurpose building of Oak Hill United Methodist Church. The funeral will be held at noon in the church’s multipurpose building with Rev. Adam Love officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Oak Hill United Methodist Church, Capital Improvement Fund, 2239 NC 181, Morganton, NC 28655.
The family would like to give a special thanks to his caregivers, Shana Bridges, Angie Allen, Haley Sebastian, Josh Hollar, Shelby Lane, Katie McCracken, Drew Mellon, Megan Cook, and Lisa Reece. They would also like to thank their neighbors, Margaret and Katie Gordon, and the staff of Amorem Hospice.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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I only met Mr. Sellars through my home health physical therapy visits, but he was such a good patient - always agreeable to the day’s workout and with such interesting conversation. I don’t always remember everyone throughout my career, but he was certainly one that I did. I’m very sorry for your loss and I hope you will feel Gods peace in the days to come.
Condolences from Buckeye Arizona. I'll miss you uncle Charles. My thoughts and prayers are with you Tammy and Tommy and your families. My dad Landrum (Bill) Crawford Sellars both of us in Buckeye (Phoenix) Arizona.
Charles will surely be missed. He and Barbara was and are dear friends we met late in life. We have had the pleasure of visiting them many times since we became to know them .ive also been fortunate to acquired several of the trunks he helped Barbara to restore . Of course he’s gifted me some of his Apple gourds he loved to do. Lots of mementoes we have from our visits . He always wanted to show us things he’d been working on. What time we’ve known Charles & Barbara they have become special friend from another state. I’m glad that God let us meet them in this life . We’re going miss him , but I’m striving to go to that wonderful place where there’s no more sickness . pain or worries . He’s free now and rejoicing. Friends are special people that somewhere along the way that you draw near too . Charles was that friend . Now we pray that God will lift up Barbara and help her to carry this burden of loss . May he carried her and the family thru this dark time . Until they meet again .