Chestley Styles

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Chestley Sinnott Styles was born November 25, 1923, in Camden, Arkansas, the first son of Chestley Key Styles and Allie Blanche (House) Styles. He was 102 when he died on May 3, 2026, at his home in Rosamond, California.

After graduating in only three-and-a-half years from high school in Buckeye, Arizona, Chestley enlisted in the army; he was just 19 years old. He served during World War II as a machine gunner guarding the perimeter of General George Patton’s Third Army headquarters in Europe. One of Chestley’s favorite stories from the war was about meeting General Patton and showing him the features of the “Quad Fifty” anti-aircraft weapon he operated.

In December 1945, Chestley’s army service ended. His awards included the Bronze Star, Victory Medal, good-conduct medal, and four battle stars for the European Theater of Operations.

Following the war, Chestley married Juline Marston. They made their home in Palmdale, California. Chestley secured a job in the Palmdale office of the Los Angeles County Road Department, a job that provided security for a family that grew to include seven children. Tragically, Juline died in 1968, when she was just 37 years old. Chestley later married Juanita Sutton, who died last August.

During his life, Chestley valued hard work and integrity. He was a life member of the Catholic fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus. His hobbies included fishing and hunting, and he enjoyed going out into the desert to practice target shooting. He also enjoyed music from the big-band era: Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman were some of his favorites. 

Chestley’s was preceded in death by two brothers and sisters-in-law—Marcus “Mark” Styles, Maureen Styles, William “Bill” Styles, and Glenna Pruitt—a grandson, Nicholas Frye; a great-granddaughter, Astrid Groves; a son-in-law, John Frye; and a brother-in-law, Paul Morse.

He is survived by seven children: Linda Marston-Reid and her husband Scott of Mexico, Marian Styles and her husband John Shannon of Virginia, Kathryn Fisher and her husband Larry of Kentucky, Joe Styles of California, Martha Frye of Tennessee, John Styles of California, and Teresa Dale of Florida. His legacy also continues with nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and sister-in-law Diane Morse of Washington, as well as nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Chestley might well want to say to those who carry on: “I always did the best I knew how.”

Burial will be Friday, June 5, 11 a.m. at Butler Creek Cemetery, Sulphur Springs, Arkansas.