Charles S. Chellis

Charles S. Chellis, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Sunday, October 30, 2022. Charles loved growing up surrounded by family and his many cousins on his family farm in Tunkhannock, PA, and for his entire life considered himself a farmer. He was the pride of his family being the first to graduate college at the University of Scranton. He married the love of his life, Paulette, who happened to be the girl next door, and they made their married life together in Baltimore where he also served in the US Navy and received his Masters at American University. Charles was a retired 47 year mathematician and systems analysist at the National Security Agency. He loved the big, old, white house on the hill he and Paulette patiently and sometimes not-so-patiently renovated, and raised their family. Charles was constantly working on the quirky old house where he helped deliver his youngest and where he and Paulette hosted First Communions, bonfires that often had the fire department on standby, graduation parties, Eagle Scout ceremonies, anniversary parties, an amazing garden, rehearsal dinners, lots of wildlife including the occasional cow and once a bear, and where Charles could create and boast of the best Christmas lights display, the fastest mile-long toboggan route, and the most competitive kick-the-can games in West Baltimore. He was a volunteer Hunter Safety Instructor for the MD Natural Resources Police for many years. He volunteered with the Howard County 4-H Program ant the Maryland 4-H Environmental Education and Camping Center in Western Maryland. After training with the Maryland Shooting Sports for Riflery, he served as the Shooting Sports instructor, which included rifle and archery. For more years than anyone could count, he volunteered his time as a School Board member at John Paul Regional School and the Seton Keough High School, and was a championship winning girls softball coach for EdRecCo and Seton Keough High School. He loved working with children and was truly loved in return. In retirement, he enjoyed working each week with his farm family at Breezy Willow Farm CSA and battling his formidable but ultimately weaker adversaries, the groundhogs. He was also a very talented craftsman and woodworker.

His love for all of these paled in comparison to the love he had for traveling to all 50 states and around the world with his cherished wife (and in each location searching for the best gelato and the perfect souvenir hat), spending time with and being the biggest cheerleader and supporter for his children, and delighting in his grandchildren. With his grandchildren he spent many hours watching sports games, driving them to and from school while teaching them songs, fishing, creating train displays, and helping with school projects as well as teaching all of them the value of a strong handshake with eye contact, tying the correct knot in a necktie, the patience required to untangle a fishing line, and the soothing powers of a great hug. Charles loved a good adventure, if he couldn't find one, he made his own, and everyone around him was a beneficiary of these fun times. He was gentle and kind and truly admired and respected for who he was and for the family and legacy he built. He was in all ways a people person and made everyone feel welcome and supported with his smile and genuine interest. He was a fantastic friend and mentor who absolutely adored a good conversation, he was a creative practical joker, and he loved a good story, no matter how many times he heard or told one. Charles thanked God every day for his wife, his kids, his grandkids, and the family they built and not a single person in his orbit doubted his love for them - to know Charles was to be fully loved by Charles. Charles was a member of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Catholic Church in Woodstock where he was a dedicated to attending daily mass.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Paulette (Rowker) Chellis, his three loving children Darby (Jason) Bade, Corinne (William) McHale, and Stefan (Amanda) Chellis, and his adoring 8 grandchildren, Carter, Jackson & Ashby Bade, Lily and Colt McHale, and Maxwell, Violet and Scarlett Chellis, all of Howard County, MD. he is also survived by his loving brother, James Chellis as well as in-laws Paul Rowker, Jr., Nancy Rowker and Peter Rowker all of Tunkhannock, PA.

A visitation for Charles will be held Friday, November 4, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Sterling-Ashton-Schwab-Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, Inc., 1630 Edmondson Ave, Catonsville, MD 21228. A visitation will occur Friday, November 4, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, 1630 Edmondson Ave, Catonsville, MD 21228. A Memorial service will be held at the church on Saturday November 5, 2022 at 11:30 AM followed by a mass of Christian Burial at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Catholic Church, 10800 Old Court Rd, Woodstock, MD 21163.

Interment will follow at St. Alphonsus Church Cemetery, Woodstock, MD at 1:00 PM.

With a reception to follow.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sterlingashtonschwabwitzke.com for the Chellis family.