Solona "Charles" Phillip Padilla, 69, of Cabot, passed away July 2, 2022 at his home with his wife and sister-in-law at his bedside.   He took advantage of his year-long battle with brain cancer to tell anyone who would listen about the Lord.  He was born July 28, 1952 in San Jose, California to the late Solomon and Ona Bailey Padilla.  Charles was a 1971 graduate of Russellville High School.  He attended Arkansas Tech University entering the ROTC program and upon graduating in 1977 was commissioned as a 2 ^nd Lieutenant in the United States Army.  Charles proudly served his country for over 25 years in the U. S. Army Reserves.  His military career included Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Operation Safe Haven and aid to Nicaragua and Honduras.

Charles loved Harley Davidson motorcycles and rode thousands of miles covering the United States and parts of Canada.  RV's and camping were hobbies both he and his wife enjoyed, often meeting Laura and Martin at their favorite Mexican restaurant in Hot Springs.  Trips to Branson and Silver Dollar City with JoAnn and Terry will always be cherished.  He deeply loved his family, but his greatest love was his Heavenly Father.  In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his Yorkies, Bailey and Toby.

Charles is survived by his wife, Melanie; sons, Bradley Hedgecock (Danyelle) of Panama City Beach, Florida and Barrett Padilla (Allison) of Cabot, Arkansas; grandsons, Gavin and Braden Hedgecock of Florida and a host of friends, family and people he met along the way, for indeed, Charles never met a stranger.

Visitation will be 3:00-4:30 p.m., Sunday, July 10, 2022 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 11, 2022 at Cabot Church of Christ with interment at 1:00 p.m. at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock. For those wishing to make donations in memory of Charles Padilla, the family suggests Arkansas Hospice Searcy, 410 N Apple St., Searcy, AR  72143.  Arrangements by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.