Charles Chesley Rountree

On Thursday, February 4, 2021, Charles Chesley Rountree loving husband and father of two passed away at the age of 92. He was born June 9, 1928 in Fort Worth, Texas to Lee and Elizabeth Rountree. His family moved to Memphis, Tennessee where his father was in the cotton business. He graduated Christian Brothers High School and received his chemical engineering degree from the University of Texas in Austin. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Ches, as he was known, was a first lieutenant from 1953-1956 stationed at Kirkland Air Force base and worked on many special projects at Sandia Base. He flew both for work and pleasure and was an instrument and visual rated pilot.

On November 21, 1959 he married Ruth Ann Bowers of Seattle, Washington and they raised two daughters, Linda Rountree Soukup of Edwards, Colorado and Carolyn Rountree of Aubrey, Texas. Ches worked for Halliburton, Schlumberger and Gearhart Owens in the years after the Air Force. When working for Schlumberger, he worked many overseas locations including Israel (during the Suez Crisis), Lebanon, Jordan and Kuwait. In the mid 70s, Ches started his own oil service company in Corpus Christi, Texas, Sigma Industries and ran that until he retired. He loved to play golf, ski and watch football.

Ches is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Ruth, his two daughters Linda and Carolyn and four grandchildren, Price, Creighton, Madison and Olivia Soukup.

Stonebriar Funeral Home in Frisco, Texas is handling funeral arrangements.

A celebration of his life will be done this summer in safer times. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cal Farley’ Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, a charity dear to his heart.