Charles Henry Monroe Jr.

Charles “Chuck” Henry Monroe Jr., 94, originally from Quarryville, NY, passed away at home on April 12, 2023 in Fairfax, VA. Charles was born in St. Petersburg, FL to Belva Mae O’Bryon and Charles Henry Monroe on March 12, 1929. He attended a one-room schoolhouse in Quarryville through the eighth grade and graduated from Saugerties High School in 1947. With a desire to get a college education and see the world, he enlisted in the Navy in the fall of 1948, kicking off a 24-year career that took his family to Pensacola, FL; Piney Point, MD; Monterey, CA; Morocco; and Guam. He trained as a pilot and attended intelligence school, serving in the Vietnam war, as well as missions across Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Naples and the Far East. Charles recently described his most memorable deployment, a 1969 around-the-world magnetic aerial survey that flew to 11 countries in 3 months with a team of Navy personnel and scientists. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 1972 after 24 years of service.

Following a brief courtship, he married Nancy Ann Ward in Orlando, FL on April 16, 1955. They raised their three children (Hank, Tom and Liz) throughout Charles’ deployments and built family memories across the world, reveling in camping, eating and exploring new locales. After the loss of his wife Nancy in 1974, Charles retired to the Philippines with his wife Carrie and son CB, opening his own bar (the Oarhouse), sailing from the Philippines to Australia and continuing to fly as a private pilot.

Charles returned to his hometown of Quarryville in 1986 to be closer to family and settled into Fairfax for the later years of his life. Charles maintained his interests as an avid traveler, boater, photographer, gardener (with a specialization in tomatoes) and family historian. He owned Mehitabel, a Steel Craft that traversed the waters of the Hudson River, Erie Canal and Champlain Canal. He later upgraded his boat to Ebb Tide, a Trawler that cruised the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries with his family as crew. Charles continued his global travels, including Egypt at the age of 80, Russia at 88 and many other parts in between. Above all, he took great pleasure in sharing these stories with his family and friends. Though he is dearly missed, his memories and interests live on in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Charles is survived by his children Charles (Diana Kruger) Henry Monroe III, Thomas (Fernanda Conceicao) W. Monroe, Lisbeth (Dave MacPherson) Monroe Teopaco, Charles (Jamie) Belle Monroe; his grandchildren: Simeon (Haley Kimmet) Teopaco, Nancy (Chris) Baltes, Bridget (Paul Nichols) Monroe, Chase Monroe, Ethan Via-Pietrzak, Jacob Monroe, Ty Monroe, Duke Monroe, Ana (Sandra Sobrino) Conceicao, and Catarina Conceicao; and his great-grandchildren: Felix Teopaco, Connor Hannon, Paul Nichols, and Julia Nichols.

Charles is preceded in death by his wife Nancy Ann Ward Monroe, his parents Belva and Charles, step-father Allen Wolven, half-brother Allen Wolven Jr., his daughter-in-law Susan Lambert Monroe, and his son-in-law Millard Teopaco.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, April 20 between 10 am – 12 pm at Demaine Funeral Home (10565 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22030). Additional details for a burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be announced at a later time.