Charles Robert De La Garza Sr.

Charles “Chuck/Pepper” Robert De La Garza, Sr., age 77, peacefully passed away in the early morning hours of Friday, December 23rd, 2022 in his Providence Forge, Virginia home, surrounded by loved ones. He will be lovingly remembered by his Wife of 54 years, Carolyn Louise Beach De La Garza; his Mother, Viola Grace Hood; his Siblings, Patsy Shaw, Mike Barr, Patsi Nau, and Audrey Moore; his Uncle, Alex Crouch; Aunt Lila Henry; his Children, Robb De La Garza and Wife Jennifer, Melissa Vititoe and Husband Chad, Amanda Benner and Husband Erik, Brandon De La Garza and Wife Kaitlin; and his Grandchildren, Cameron, Alayna, Kendall, Lola, Lucas, and Dylan, who meant the world to him. Also, his most beloved Poodle, Belgium “Waffles”. He was preceded in death by his Parents, Charles and Mary De La Garza and Willard Hood; Sister, Jenny Hoffmann/Buchman; and Daughter, Heather Grace De La Garza. Chuck was born on June 28th, 1945 in San Antonio, TX. Throughout his life, he accomplished many great things, but he would argue his greatest accomplishment was his loving Family. He loved the Lord and enjoyed serving as a Presbyterian Deacon, wherever he resided. Chuck was a proud Army Veteran who served in the 1st Signal Brigade in Vietnam as a front line communications operator for General's Westmoreland and Abrams. Prior to Vietnam he was stationed in Germany and France, and then after Vietnam was stationed at Stratcom (U.S. Strategic Command) in Colorado Springs, and was selected for the prestigious Honor Guard position at Arlington National Cemetery. Chuck then served as a Whitehouse Congressional Courier under the JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff). He also won numerous awards while working for the Army Corps of Engineers in San Francisco, California and the Bureau of Land Management in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Chuck was honored for his distinguished work during the 1976 Big Thompson Canyon Flood in Colorado. He was an Entrepreneur at heart, who later founded Energy Marketing Incorporated, an oil and gas leasing company in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Chuck spent some of his best days as a successful farmer on his farm in Willisburg, Kentucky and at his car washes in Yorktown, Virginia. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Chuck knows how much he loved his Family and Friends. Spending time with loved ones was arguably his favorite hobby! He was the neighborhood socialite, and was known for waving at everyone, while riding the streets on his scooter, with his dog Belgium. When Chuck wasn’t hosting BBQs and pool parties, he loved to frequent Rosie's, to bet on the ponies. Throughout his life, his favorite pastimes were vacationing at Lake Gaston, listening to music, gardening/farming, bowling, camping, water and snow skiing, being a soccer Dad and coaching little league baseball. Chuck had a love for life that radiated in everything he did and was proud to be known as Super Grampy and everyone’s Dad. His Family would like to invite you to share any memories of Chuck/Pepper in person or in the online guest book to join them in honoring and remembering him. Chuck’s lively spirit and love-filled wisdom will truly be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him… Services will be held on Saturday, January 7th, 2023 Donations can be made in honor of Chuck to the Wounded Warriors Project: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=11585&ovr_acv_id=16828&campaignSource=ONLINE&source=BS23008AAABRXAA&gclid=CjwKCAiAwc-dBhA7EiwAxPRylKiJEkq5CMER12-_iBWJtNAp2Cvq-YAmRCHHU4x0vEHq-hPUEOlqmhoCKFgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds.