Pilkinton, Charles R.

Charles R. Pilkinton

2 April 1944 – 13 June 2024

Roddy, born April 2, 1944, in Shreveport, La., was the second son of James R. Pilkinton Sr. and Louise R. Pilkinton. A native of Elm Grove La., Roddy and his beloved brother “Jimmy” helped their dad with the family farm raising cattle and hay.

Fiercely independent, Roddy was carrying a rifle by the age of seven. He loved hunting squirrels, fishing and frogging along the bayou behind the farm with his brother and cousins.

Roddy graduated from Northwestern State University, in Natchitoches, La. His fitness and strength won him the title of NSU Middle Weightlifting Champion. He was proud to be a member of the FIRST pledge class of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Theta-Nu Chapter.

After graduating from NSU, Roddy, followed in his brother Jimmy’s footsteps, joining the U.S. Marine Corp, during the Vietnam War. Like his brother, Roddy volunteered to join the elite Marine Reconnaissance. Where, as a part of a small group of four to seven men, he conducted surveillance and call for fire missions, behind enemy lines. These missions were often extremely dangerous as Recon teams were always heavily outnumbered (100 to 1). After surviving a tour as a Recon Marine, he was commissioned as an officer. During his voluntary tour, as a 2nd Lieutenant, he led a platoon of marines in multiple fierce battles for control of the hills around the Khe Sanh Combat base. The fighting around Khe Sanh was some of the most intense fighting of the Vietnam War. During the fighting, he was wounded by a mortar attack and sent home. As recognition of his courageous and heroic service in Vietnam, he was awarded rare and elite medals.

Roddy is preceded in death by his father, mother, brother and the love of his life, Amy Tauzin Pilkinton. He is survived by his daughter Robin J. Covington, his son James E. Pilkinton II, stepchildren Jessica and Jeremy Malmay, his 4 grandchildren Christine Reddy, Caitlin, Michael and Catheryn-Margaret Covington and his niece and nephew.