Charlie Richard Maxwell “Ol’ Paw Paw”, 97, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Born in Lawton, MI, April 8, 1927, the youngest of four children to the late Thomas Maxwell and Isa (Boyce) Maxwell.
From a young age, Charlie had a passion for baseball. He graduated from Lawton High School and received a baseball scholarship from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. His time at Western was interrupted as he was drafted to the Army. Upon his honorable discharge, Charlie resumed his love for baseball. He returned to the minor leagues and played in Wellsville, NY, Birmingham, AL, Louisville, KY, and Roanoke, VA.
While in Virginia, Charlie met Goldie Ann Morgan. They were married on June 12, 1950, and moved to Paw Paw, where they started a family. Shortly after their wedding, Charlie made his major league debut on Sept. 20, 1950, with the Boston Red Sox. He tied a major league record in 1959, while playing with the Detroit Tigers, against the New York Yankees, with four consecutive home runs in a Sunday doubleheader. Charlie played for the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox. Charlie was inducted into the state of Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
He is survived by his four children, Charles (Nancy) Maxwell Jr. of Paw Paw, Jeffrey Maxwell of Paw Paw; two daughters, Cindy (John) Goldberg of Paw Paw, and Kelle (Greg) Dillon of Holly Ridge, NC. Charlie is also survived by 14 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Goldie Ann Maxwell in 2021; his sisters, Wilma Maxwell and Maxine Bosworth; and his brother, William Maxwell.
Family and friends were invited to visit Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 11 a.m. to noon at Adams Funeral Home, 502 West Michigan Ave., Paw Paw, where a celebration of life was held with the Rev. Ron Packer officiating. Burial followed at Wildey Cemetery, Paw Paw Township.
For those planning a memorial contribution, the family request memorials be directed to: Lawton High School Athletic Boosters, PO Box 39, Lawton, MI, 49065, Paw Paw High School Athletics, 30609 East Red Arrow Highway Paw Paw, MI, 49079 or to Centrica Care Navigators, 7100 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.
