Charles Lester Putnam, Jr., 74, of Millboro, Virginia, passed away Sunday, October 14, 2012 at Lewis Gale Alleghany Hospital in Low Moor.

He was born June 2, 1938 in Covington, a son of the late Charles Lester Putman, Sr. and Mamie Hocker Putnam.

Mr. Putnam graduated from Covington High School Class of 1955. In 1961 he graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering.

Highlights of his career were being the Resident Engineer at the Pentagon for 10 years and Project Engineer manager of the Asian-African Museum of the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. Also during his career he worked as a construction engineer on the Poff Building in Roanoke.

He was a member of Covington Lodge 610, Loyal Order of Moose and the Elks Club in Clifton Forge. His special hobbies included hunting, playing golf, working around his farm, singing and playing his guitar. He attended First Christian Church.

Surviving are is daughter, Ruthie Maxwell and her husband, Scott of Stafford; three step sons, Tom Bolinger of Millboro; Roy Bolinger and Bobby Bolinger, both of Florida; a sister, Ruth Altizer of Covington; a niece, Garlynda Haynes of Clifton Forge and a nephew, Tim Altizer of Millboro.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in the Arritt Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bill Gilliland officiating.

The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Arritt Funeral Home.

The interment will follow in Alleghany Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers will be Ernest Deel, James Stewart, Bill Lawson, Danny Clark, Bill Richardson, Bill Roach , Gary St. Clair and Leon Whitaker. Alternates will be Steve Clark, Chris Lindsey, Mike Clifford, Jerry Ballengee and Mickey Hardy.

Memorial donations in Mr. Putman's name may be made at the Boy's Home, Inc., 306 Boys Home Road, Covington, VA 24426.