Wayne Thornton, 55, will appear before Kirklees Magistrates' Court tomorrow after being arrested in connection with an incident in the Paddock area of the town yesterday.
Officers had been called to a house in Royds Avenue, Paddock, at around 6.30am.
They found the body of a 79-year-old man, who has now been named as John Utley.
A police spokesman said Mr Utley had died as a result of serious head injuries.