Charles "Chuck" Spangler

Our unbelievable Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Uncle, and WWII Marine (South Pacific), age 89, went to that great dance party in heaven on September 7, 2012. He was born on April 7, 1923 in Somerset, Ohio, where he was raised and attended Somerset High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and participated in the liberation of Guam, and attended the fifty-year anniversary of the event. After WWII he moved to Texas, and met and married the beautiful Donnie Helen Freund who preceded him in death in 1987. Chas, Chuck, Charles, or Gus, he was a man who had and was loved by so many it’s hard to describe what a lovely and laughter filled life he provided for all of us who still are here to enjoy. Even in death, he was surrounded by love and laughter. He loved that and was always the life of the party even to the end. Dad and his brothers all served in combat in WWII and somehow were able to always tell the most comical stories of their adventures and exploits during such a critical time in American history. We all loved that about him and will treasure that for the rest of our lives. Dad had degrees from Ohio State University (always a Buckeye), and two degrees from the University of Texas. He also played on the Varsity Basketball team at Princeton University but left prior to graduation. He served the Austin area community as a beloved Pharmacist at Ace’s Drug Mart and Gus’s Drug until retirement. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, hunting, tennis, golf, ballroom dancing, photography, traveling, reading, nature, his family and friends, and creating unique gifts. Even though a tough old Marine until the end, Dad had such a kind, sweet, and gentle spirit that even at the end he brought joy and smiles to all around him. Never one to slow down, he ended his active years volunteering at Camp Mabry’s military museum. Dad knew the secret to life; fun, kindness, laughter, animals, and the devotion and love to family and friends. Our family and friends thank the wonderful staff at the Lighthouse at Altenheim (hospice) in Round Rock for their kind and tender treatment of Dad and our family during his final hours here on earth.

Preceding Dad in death is his beloved wife Donnie Helen, his hilarious brothers Fred, James, Sam, and Robert, his beautiful sister Ruth, and his parents Soloman and Elizabeth. This wonderful man is survived by his children and their spouses, Debra and Tom Blair, Toni and Charles Jr. “Beno” Spangler, grandchildren Christi Blair, Jackie Blair, Jennifer Pemp, Brian Blair and wife Natalie, Jessica Spangler, and great-grandchildren Brooklyn and Reed Blair, his niece Suzanne Kendrick, niece “Little Ann”, nephews Spangler; James, Richard, Sam, Scott, Steve and their families, his closest buddy “Yogi”, his dog of 16 years, all his senior citizen dance group friends, and countless friends and neighbors down in the “Shiner Ranch” hood. Dad will be missed by all of us but with a big smile when we think of him!

Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Sunday, September 9, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 10, 2012 in the Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Camp Mabry Military Museum or to the hospice facility, Lighthouse at Altenheim in Round Rock.

To share memories with the family, please visit www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com.