Charles S. Wimbrow

Charlotte – Charles Samuel Wimbrow, 88, of Charlotte, passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2013. He was born in Denton, Maryland on Nov. 21, 1924 to the late Audrey Jane Brown Wimbrow and Lawrence Ernest Wimbrow.

Mr. Wimbrow attended Duke University in 1942; he then joined the U.S. Navy in January, 1943, and attended Officer Training School; he was a Lieutenant assigned to a destroyer, the USS Anthony, in the Pacific arena. After a 3-year stint with the Navy, he was honorably discharged in December, 1945, and then he returned to Duke, and graduated in 1947. “Chuck” played baseball at Duke and then went on to pay professional ball with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Following his baseball career, he then worked in personnel, became associated, and later entered management, with Nationwide Insurance. He worked there until he retired in 1983. Chuck was a charter member of St. Stephen United Methodist Church, and was very active in many different capacities of the church. His hobbies were fishing, woodworking, golf, and he had a keen interest in, and knowledge of, all aspects of sports.

Chuck was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, and was loved and respected dearly by all who had the pleasure of knowing him--he truly was one of the “good guys”. For those who knew Chuck, he never let an opportunity pass without at least one good joke.

Chuck met his wife, Phyllis Ashley of Fairmont, NC while at Duke, and they were married in 1948. They had three beloved children: Phyllis Ann Chalk and husband John D. Chalk III of Charlotte, Samuel Ashley Wimbrow and wife Elizabeth A. Wimbrow of Concord, NC, and Nancy Jane Freeman and former husband, George Fielding Freeman of Jacksonville Beach, FL; grandchildren, John Brandon Chalk and wife Kristine of Edwards, CO, Logan Ashley Foose and husband, Ransome of Charlotte, Samuel Charles Wimbrow and Maxton Lee Wimbrow of Concord, and Charles Walter Freeman and Davis Fielding Freeman of Jacksonville Beach; and great-granddaughter, Harper Ashley Foose of Charlotte.

After the early death of Phyllis, Chuck then married Dolores S. Williams in 1991, who passed away in 1993. Her children are Glenn Williams, Roger Williams, Janie Watson, and Daniel Williams. Then in 1994 he married Jean Lewis Wolhar. Chuck is survived by Jean and her children, John Wolhar, Jr. and wife Cherie of Marietta, GA, Lewis Wolhar and wife Judy of Charlotte, Joe Wolhar and wife Ann of Raleigh, and Lisa Brien and husband Tom of Charlotte; and grandchildren, C.J., Rebecca, Brian, Xan, Chris, Dan, and Joey. Chuck was preceded in death by step-daughter, Jean Ann Wolhar Gamble of Raleigh, as well as his brother, Lawrence E. Wimbrow, Jr. of Ocean City, MD.

A celebration of Chuck’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at St. Stephen United Methodist Church, Charlotte. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church Building Fund, 6800 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC 28211.