He was greeted at the gates of heaven by his parents Cader Vause and Esther Pigott Baker, Brother Lamar Vause, Sister-in-law Donna (Midge) Vause, and Grandson Shawn McConnell. He leaves to cherish in his memory his loving spouse of 63 years Ruby Vause; Brother Chester Vause; Son Glenn Vause, Daughters Debbie Burks (Roger), Carmen Allen (Carl), Brenda DeArmond (Paul); Grandchildren Amanda Clemons (Daniel), Andrea Lenhardt (Jason), Paul DeArmond (Melissa), Lucas DeArmond, Corey Allen, Nathan McConnell and Blake Crowe and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Monday August 13th from 5-7 at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park 12777 S.R. 82 Fort Myers, FL 33913. Funeral Services will be Tuesday August 14th at 11.
He was a true native born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. He graduated from Fort Myers High School in 1948. From a young age the value of hard work and a job well done was evident in his personality. As a young boy he mowed lawns and delivered newspapers by bicycle. He had many occupations in his life. He was a Pepsi Cola delivery man (including deliveries to Sanibel/Captiva by ferry boat) and also sold life insurance for National Standard Life Insurance Company. During the years he was involved with flower farming and cattle raising. Later in life he once again managed a paper route in Lehigh Acres. When most people would have retired he began two of the jobs he would enjoy the most which were his handyman and tractor services. These jobs he continued to do for many years until his body would no longer allow it.
He was a long time member of Morning Star Baptist Church (formerly Russell Park Baptist). He held many positions there including Sunday School teacher, Sunday School bus driver, Music Minister, Treasurer, Deacon, Grounds Maintenance and was instrumental in the construction of the main sanctuary and fellowship hall. Through the years he was involved with many other ministries of the church including mission trips to other countries and states. Most recently he enjoyed helping out with the church food pantry. The ministry closest to his heart was music. He dearly loved to play the guitar and sang with many different gospel groups throughout his life.
Along with gospel he also had a passion for bluegrass music. He liked nothing better than loading up the motorhome with his Sweetie (Ruby) and traveling to bluegrass festivals. It was rare for him to miss a one, even if it meant foregoing Thanksgiving Dinners with the family. He would always take his guitar along on these trips and would partake in the jam sessions between concerts. Trips in the motorhome were not only for bluegrass festivals though. Many other trips were taken over the years and he managed to visit all of these United States except Hawaii. He traveled to Alaska three times on fishing excursions. Of all his hobbies fishing was his favorite and his love for fishing was passed on to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. According to his family some of their best memories with him were out in his boat on Lake Okeechobee and fishing for mullet near Caya Costa. For many years he also had several goldfish ponds at their home in Buckingham. Simply to raise them and enjoy their beauty.
One of his legacies of love have been all the things he has built by hand through the years. When he married Ruby in February of 1955, he built from the ground up, the house they have lived in to this day. It has been said “Where most people use one nail, Chuck uses three nails”. His quality of work is evident in their house which has withstood every storm and hurricane since it was built. He was instrumental in the building of his daughter Brenda’s house and the addition of his daughter Carmen’s house. He enjoyed refurbishing old furniture and his craftsmanship can be seen in his church and also in the houses of his children and grandchildren. He passed this love of woodworking on to his grandson Paul and his great grandson Chad.
It is hard to put into a few words the life of such a good and humble christian man. It was definitely a life well lived and very evident in the legacy passed on to his loving family.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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