Charles Thomas Schrum

Mr. Charles Thomas Schrum, “CT”, went home with the Lord on April 30, 2012. He was born in Lawndale, North Carolina in 1919. He graduated from Newport News High School in 1938 and married Merle Arlene Kessler originally of Lynchburg in 1943. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed in Yuma, Arizona along with his wife, where he repaired WWII war planes. Upon return to the Virginia Peninsula he was employed by NASA, in the full scale wind tunnel and part of the NASA space program.

“CT” retired from NASA after 39 years. He was in ‘semi-retirement’ at Craft Machine Works for 10 years at his brother’s business. He played and enjoyed baseball into young adult life and regularly played golf into his 80’s at Hampton course, and was a regular ‘walker’ at the local malls.

“CT” was a devoted and committed member of West Hampton Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia. Through the years he served as a deacon, chairman of deacons, Sunday school teacher, Training Union director and dedicated 43 years as the church Treasurer. He served a term as Trustee of Midwestern Theological Seminary in Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene and his two brothers William F. Schrum and Jake Z. Schrum.

Survivors include his sister Mrs. Elizabeth Carpenter in North Carolina and Mrs. Dorothy Bratten and her husband in Newport News; daughter-Mrs. Susan Norris and husband Fred of Seaford and son Rev. T. Kevin Schrum and wife Vicki of Yorktown. Grandchildren: David Norris of Newport News; Jennifer Erin Proffitt of Hampton; Suzanne Nester of Hampton and Amber Schrum of Richmond. Great grandchildren: Guinevere Norris; Roger Proffitt Jr. and Leila, Anthony and Jocelynn Nester.

A celebration of life service will be on Thursday, May 3 at 2:00 pm at Westhampton Baptist Church, 631 Aberdeen Road, in Hampton. Interment will follow at Parklawn Memorial Park.

Friends are encouraged to visit www.parklawn-woodfh.com to share memories and words of condolence with the family.

Arrangements are under the care of Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Avenue, Hampton, VA 23666.