Charles H. Sain

Charles Haskell "Hack" Sain, affectionately known as Papa to his grandchildren, passed from this life to The Presence of Christ on June 27, 2013. He was a man of practical intelligence, who always had a plan, never met a stranger, loved broadly, gave frequently and generously, and thoroughly enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hack had four primary life passions - his family, his church, his profession, and his community.

The family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, AL. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 1, 2013 in Southern Heritage Chapel, Pelham, and burial will follow in Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham. Dr Gary Furr will officiate.

Hack was born in New Market, AL on January 20, 1923. He was the eldest of eight children born to Clayta and Oris Sain. He grew up on the family farm near McMinnville, TN and graduated from Grundy County High School.

Hack was married to Marie Myers Sain on August 8, 1942. He attended Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN before joining the U.S. Army and being stationed in Camp Blanding, FL. He served there for 14 months with the Infantry Training Replacement Training Center where he trained and supervised men in construction and demolition techniques.

Hack was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Marie Myers Sain; his parents; and his siblings, Marqueritte, James Murray and Joe.

Survivors include Hack's wife, Helen Weil Sain; sister, Marie Moss; and brothers, Bobby, Howard and William Sain. Hack is also survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Linda Sain; his daughter, Betsy Stockdale; and his daughter and son-in-law, Anne and Clayton Hays. Also surviving are step-children, Kimberly Stewart and Tori Thompson and Greg and Ashley Stewart; numerous grandchildren, Jason, Jeremy and Derek Sain, Brad and Lisa Stockdale, and David, Abby and Mary Kate Hays; step-grandchild, Wyatt Stewart; and nine great-granddaughters.

Hack was a lifelong member of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church where he served on the Board of Deacons and as a Sunday School teacher. He loved his church and the community therein. He also served as the Past President of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Retirement Centers.

Hack was an excellent and renowned Engineer. He graduated with Highest Honors as a proud Florida Gator with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1949, and was a registered Professional Engineer who performed work in 39 states on thousands of projects. He authored a chapter on "Earthwork" in The Standard Handbook for Civil Engineering.

Hack founded Sain Associates, an award-winning professional practice that focuses on civil engineering and surveying. He had a passion for leadership development among the engineering profession as evidenced by his involvement in the following: Life Leaders Institute (previously the Dyson Leadership Institute), and Board of Advisors in the Civil Engineering departments at University of Florida and University of Alabama, Birmingham. In addition, his distinguished career included the following: Past President of Alabama Society of Engineers, Trustees' Distinguished Service Award for International Council of Shopping Centers, Lifetime Achievement Award for Alabama Society of Engineers, and member of various Engineers' Societies.

Hack's crowning professional achievements were the 2006 induction in the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame and 2008 induction into the Alabama Construction Hall of Fame. He is one of only two professionals to be inducted into both.

In the community, Hack served as City Engineer of Vestavia Hills, AL, Jefferson County Board of Zoning Adjustments, The Exchange and Rotary clubs, and Community Grief.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to any of the following: United Missions Offering at Vestavia Baptist Church, 2600 Vestavia Drive, Birmingham, AL 35216; Mortgage Fund at Grundy County Historical Society, PO Box 1422, Tracy City, TN 37387; "Department of Civil Construction & Environmental Engineering," UAB Engineering, 1075 13th St. S., Birmingham, AL 35244-4440; or Cemetery Maintenance Fund at Wesley Chapel Cemetery, c/o James "Bob" Sherwood, 1205 Sherwood Rd., Morrison, TN 37357.