Charles Lewis Brenner, Sr. died in Hot Springs at age 89. A special obituary in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette detailed Brenner's career at Gross Mortuary, including the GI Movement. The GI Movement was a group of GIs who returned to Hot Springs after the war and found a corrupt city government. Meeting in secret in the mortuary chapel -- with the lights off so no one knew who was attending the meetings -- the group put together a plan to get rid of the corruption. They were led by Sid McMath, who later became governor of Arkansas. The obituary also mentioned that Brenner was a life member and past secretary of the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers. He was also founding stockholder and board member of the Selected Funeral and Life Insurance Company, a company that now provides the funeral profession an effective insurance program and also owns several cemeteries in Hot Springs.

Charles L. Brenner Sr.
Charles Lewis Brenner Sr., 89, of Hot Springs died Saturday, February 22, 1997, in Hot Springs.
Born February 25, 1907, he was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and National Selected Morticians, a past secretary of the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, former president and co-owner of Gross Mortuary, vice-president, founding stock holder and board member of Selected Funeral and Life Insurance co. and president of the Civitan Club and the Navy League.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah Brenner of Hot Springs; one daughter, Julie Ann Walker of Austin, Texas; one son, Charles L. Brenner Jr. of Hot Springs; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be 11 a.m. today at Greenwood Cemetery with Monsignor Leo Riedmueller officiating.
Pallbearers will be Roy Jacob, Chester Curl, Paul Humphreys, Lawrence Adkins, Herman Gasbarre, Gene George, and Buddy Johnson.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Catholic school.
Arrangements are by Gross Funeral Home. [from the Sentinel-Record]