Charles "Chuck" Schank

Charles Edward Schank, of Wilmington, NC passed away on December 4th, 2020. Born February 15th, 1935 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Charles and Gladys Schank, he spent his early years in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. After graduating high school in Merchantville, NJ he attended Rutgers University, earning a degree in philosophy. He was then accepted to Yale Divinity School and received his Masters of Sacred Theology in 1959. He was ordained into the New York East Conference of the Methodist church in June, 1959. He began his ministerial career in Connecticut moored by the principles of outreach and community investment in areas such as civil rights, eradicating poverty, and helping children. He went to the first Martin Luther King Jr. march in Washington, DC with several other Methodist ministers. This powerful experience confirmed in him the need to confront racial injustice, but the resistance to change amongst many of his parishioners caused him to rethink the trajectory of his career. He left the church and attended Southern Connecticut State University, earning a Master’s of Psychology degree. Shortly after this he met Judith Malse, who became the love of his life. They married in 1972. He became a stepfather and mentor to Susan, Jay, and David Kranyik, children from Judith’s first marriage. Their new life together took them to Montana, Minnesota, and Iowa where Charles worked for numerous federal, state, and local social service agencies. A move to Virginia gave Charles the opportunity to acquire his LPC license and he began private therapy for families and individuals, as well as play therapy for children.

He took great delight in classical music, single malt scotch, Duke basketball, and Pugs.

He admired the work of theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, whose quote might best reflect the ethical life that Charles sought to live: “I wouldn’t judge a man by the presuppositions of his life, but only the fruits of his life. And the relevant fruits are, I’d say, a sense of charity, a sense of proportion, and a sense of justice.” Charles was admired by many for his convictions, compassion, wisdom, and sense of humor.

He is survived by Judith Schank, his loving wife of 48 years; his daughter Susan, son-in-law Jake Horton, and granddaughter Iris Horton; his sons David Kranyik and Jay Kranyik; daughter in law Shannon, and grandson Elliott; his sister Sue Blake and brother in law John Blake; his brother David and sister in law Martha; and many nieces and nephews of his brother and his twin sisters Sue Blake and Pat Overcash (deceased).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center and Hospice to help further their critical and compassionate work.